India greenlights first Brahmaputra underwater rail-road tunnel

An 18,662 crore green light just set up India’s first underwater rail-cum-road tunnel, slashing a six-hour grind in Assam down to a blink.

Brahmaputra tunnel approval

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the twin-tube project.
• Narendra Modi chaired the panel backing the 18,662 crore build.
• Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a historic win for Assam.
• Nitin Gadkari was thanked for pushing the plan ahead.

Gohpur to Numaligarh corridor

• A 33.7 km four-lane stretch links Gohpur and Numaligarh.
• The 15.79 km section runs beneath the Brahmaputra River.
• Sarma said the idea was first floated in 2021.
• Assam gains its first underwater rail crossing.

Travel time and distance cut

• The distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur drops to 34 km.
• The current 240 km detour gets wiped out.
• Six-hour travel shrinks to roughly 20 minutes.
• Freight movement should become faster and cheaper.

Northeast connectivity push

• Northern and southern Assam get tighter links.
• Trade and tourism are expected to pick up pace.
• The project strengthens integration with the rest of India.
• Sarma framed it as fuel for faster regional growth.