Guwahati, February 14 – The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of India’s first twin-tube underwater rail-cum-road tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam, at a total capital cost of ₹18,662 crore. Reacting to this development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the Union Cabinet’s decision as a “historic milestone” for the state and the entire Northeast.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for approving the ambitious 33.7-km four-lane corridor from Gohpur to Numaligarh, which includes a 15.79-km tunnel under the Brahmaputra River, at an estimated cost of ₹18,662 crore.
Sarma said that this project, which was first envisioned in 2021, would transform connectivity and accelerate economic growth in Assam.
Once completed, the corridor will reduce the distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur from nearly 240 km to just 34 km. Travel time, which currently takes around six hours, will be reduced by nearly 95 per cent to about 20 minutes.
The Chief Minister said that the project would significantly enhance freight movement, improve logistics efficiency, and lower transportation costs, providing a major boost to trade, industry, and investment across the region.
Describing the tunnel as a “strategic lifeline,” Sarma said that it would unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism, and industrial development, while also strengthening connectivity between northern and southern Assam.
He noted that the project would play a crucial role in integrating the Northeast more closely with the rest of the country.
The tunnel will also mark a major milestone in Assam’s rail and road infrastructure. It will become the state’s fourth railway crossing over the Brahmaputra — with three existing bridges and this being the first tunnel — further easing passenger and goods movement across the river.
The Chief Minister also thanked Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for his support and guidance in taking the project forward.
Sarma said that the approval of the underwater tunnel reflects the Centre’s strong commitment to infrastructure-led development in the Northeast and aligns with the broader vision of faster growth and improved connectivity.
“This project will give more ‘gati’ to Assam’s development journey,” the Chief Minister added, calling it a game-changer for the state’s future.
