Game-Changer Project: Road-Rail Tunnel Approved Under This River

In a historic infrastructure decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor in Assam. The highlight of the project is a 15.79 km twin-tube TBM underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the River Brahmaputra. The total project length is 33.7 km, and it will be built at a cost of ₹18,662 crore under the EPC model.

Project Overview: Twin Tube TBM Underwater Tunnel

The project will connect Gohpur (NH-15) to Numaligarh (NH-715), significantly reducing travel distance and time.

Key Highlights,

• Total length: 33.7 km
• Tunnel length under Brahmaputra: 15.79 km
• Configuration: 4-lane (2 lanes in each tube)
• Railway infrastructure provision in one tube
• Execution model: Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)
• Total cost: ₹18,662 crore

This will be India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel and the second such project in the world.

Why Was Twin Tube TBM Underwater Tunnel Project Needed?

Currently, the distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur is about 240 km, and travel takes nearly 6 hours. Vehicles pass through,

• Kaziranga National Park
• Silghat region (Silghat is a historically significant, scenic port town on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Nagaon district.)
• Biswanath Town

The new tunnel will drastically cut travel time and provide seamless connectivity without disturbing ecologically sensitive zones like Kaziranga.

Strategic and Regional Importance

The Brahmaputra underwater tunnel project will benefit,

• Assam
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Nagaland
• Other North Eastern States

It will improve strategic connectivity in border regions, enhancing mobility for both civilian and defence logistics. Faster freight movement will reduce logistics costs and strengthen economic growth in the North East.

Integration with National Highways & Railways

The project integrates with,

• NH-15
• NH-715
• Rangia–Mukongselek Railway Section (NFR)
• Furkating–Mariani loop line (NFR)

This ensures strong multi-modal connectivity, linking road and rail infrastructure under one integrated corridor.

Multi-Modal Connectivity Boost

The project will connect,

• 11 Economic Nodes
• 03 Social Nodes
• 02 Tourist Nodes
• 08 Logistic Nodes
• 04 Major Railway Stations
• 02 Airports
• 02 Inland Waterways

Such integration will transform Assam into a stronger logistics and trade hub in the North East.

Economic and Employment Impact

The project is expected to generate approximately,

• 80 lakh person-days of employment (direct and indirect)

It will stimulate,

• Industrial development
• Tourism growth
• Regional trade expansion
• Infrastructure-led economic growth

The project aligns with India’s broader vision of strengthening connectivity in the North East.

What is a Twin Tube TBM Tunnel?

• A Twin Tube Tunnel consists of two parallel tunnels, usually for separate traffic flows.
• TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) is a highly advanced machine used for drilling tunnels underground or underwater with precision and safety.
• TBM-based tunnelling ensures minimal environmental disturbance and higher structural safety.

Question

Q. The recently approved underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra will connect,

A. Guwahati and Dibrugarh
B. Gohpur and Numaligarh
C. Silchar and Jorhat
D. Tezpur and Tinsukia