Guwahati, Feb 14: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved India’s first 34-km twin-tube underwater road-cum-rail tunnel connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh in Assam. The project is estimated to cost Rs 18,662 crore.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while India has an under-river metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly in Kolkata and an undersea tunnel under construction for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train, this will be the country’s first tunnel designed for both road and rail traffic.

Currently, the journey between Numaligarh on NH-715 and Gohpur on NH-15 covers 240 km via the Kaliabhambhora road bridge near Silghat on NH-52 and takes around six hours, passing through Numaligarh, Kaziranga National Park, and Biswanath Town. The new four-lane access-controlled tunnel will go directly under the Brahmaputra River, significantly reducing travel time.

A government statement noted that this will be India’s first underwater road-rail tunnel and the second of its kind in the world. It is expected to benefit Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and other northeastern states by improving freight efficiency, reducing logistics costs, and driving socio-economic growth.

The tunnel will align with NH-15 and NH-715 and railway lines including the Rangia-Mukongselek section under NFR’s Rangia Division and the Furkating-Mariani loop under Tinsukia Division. It will connect 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourist spots, and eight logistics hubs, linking four major railway stations, two airports, and two inland waterways.

Officials highlighted its strategic importance for regional trade, industry, and development. The project is expected to generate approximately 80 lakh person-days of direct and indirect employment.