Guwahati, February 15 (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday presented a detailed overview of the Centre-approved Gohpur–Numaligarh rail-cum-road underwater tunnel project, describing it as a “major victory for Assam” and a transformative engineering milestone for the state.
Addressing a press conference at Lok Sewa Bhawan on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the project, cleared by the Central government, will be India’s first rail-cum-road underwater tunnel and the fourth such rail-road crossing over the Brahmaputra. He noted that globally it would be the second project of its kind after the Fehmarnbelt Link between Germany and Denmark.
The 33.7-km corridor will connect Gohpur on NH-15 (northern end) to Numaligarh on NH-715 (southern end). It will comprise a 15.79-km underwater tunnel and 17.91 km of approach roads—10.15 km on the Gohpur side and 7.76 km on the Numaligarh side. The project has a construction timeline of five years.
While the estimated construction cost stands at ₹11,982.36 crore, the total capital cost is pegged at ₹18,662.02 crore. The expenditure will be shared between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Defence in an 80:20 ratio. The Assam government will bear 50% of the SGST component, amounting to approximately ₹539 crore.
The twin-tube structure will feature two separate tubes, each designed for a two-lane highway. One of the tubes will integrate a rail-cum-road facility, with a railway track embedded within the road structure. Under normal conditions, the tunnel will function as a four-lane road. When required, one tube can facilitate railway operations, converting it into a single railway line with a two-lane road. For safety, cross passages will be provided every 500 metres. The tunnel will run at a depth of 52 to 57 metres below the riverbed.
On the railway front, the tunnel will connect the Rangiya–Murkongselek section under the Rangiya Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway on the Gohpur side with the Furkating–Mariani loop line section under the Tinsukia Division on the Numaligarh side.
The Chief Minister said the project was initially conceived as a road-only tunnel costing around ₹11,000 crore. However, after being presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the proposal was expanded to include a railway component, raising the total cost to ₹18,662 crore.
The project will be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which will have full administrative control. NHAI will oversee road construction, while Indian Railways will manage the railway component. The work will be executed in coordination with the state government, the Defence Ministry, and Indian Railways. Land acquisition is expected to commence within the next two to three days.
Highlighting its impact, Sarma said the existing 240-km journey between Gohpur and Numaligarh, which currently takes about six hours, will be reduced to just 34 km, bringing travel time down to approximately 20 minutes and doubling average travel speed. The tunnel will also provide an alternative route bypassing the Kaziranga National Park, thereby protecting environmental and navigation interests.
The project is expected to strengthen border connectivity and boost cross-border trade. The distance between Dimapur in Nagaland and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh will shrink from 260 km to around 170 km. It will enhance high-speed connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, promote tourism in the Northeast, and generate nearly 80 lakh human-days of employment during construction.
Terming it a landmark engineering initiative, the Chief Minister said the tunnel would significantly improve logistics efficiency, open up new employment avenues, and reinforce Assam’s long-term connectivity and strategic strength.-------
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
