India Gets First Underwater Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel In Assam, ₹18,662 Crore Corridor Approved; Check Route

The Assam underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project, a ₹18,662 crore, 15.79 km link under the Brahmaputra, aims to cut travel time, improve freight efficiency, and spur job creation. The multi modal corridor connects major nodes, airports, railways and inland waterways, strengthening regional trade and development in the Northeast.

India has cleared its first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam, a ₹18,662 crore corridor under the Brahmaputra River between Gohpur and Numaligarh. The link is expected to sharply reduce travel time, increase freight efficiency, and generate about 80 lakh jobs, offering a major push to connectivity and economic activity across the Northeast.

Officials state that Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and other northeastern states will gain from faster movement of goods and people. Analysis from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways points to lower logistics costs, stronger regional trade links, and wider socio-economic gains for nearby districts once the corridor becomes operational.

Underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam: multi-modal corridor design

The underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam forms part of a new four-lane, access-controlled greenfield corridor joining Gohpur on NH-15 with Numaligarh on NH-715. The plan integrates several transport modes, linking 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourist hubs, and eight logistics centres to create a more efficient movement network.

The underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam will also plug into four major railway stations, two airports, and two inland waterways. This structure is aimed at smoother inter-state freight movement and easier passenger travel, allowing industries and service sectors to optimise routes and potentially scale operations within the wider Northeast market.

Underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam: key technical and financial data

The underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam includes a 15.79 km tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra, which the Union Cabinet has approved under the engineering-procurement-construction model. This will be the first underwater tunnel of its kind in India and only the second such infrastructure project worldwide, according to government officials monitoring transport projects.

Current travel between Numaligarh and Gohpur stretches about 240 km and takes nearly six hours, with the road passing through Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath Town. The new corridor is projected to shorten this journey sharply, easing pressure on existing routes while maintaining access to sensitive ecological and urban zones along the older alignment.

Beyond the transport gains, the underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project in Assam is expected to strengthen strategic connectivity between major centres and unlock new sites for trade and industrial development. Government estimates suggest around 80 lakh person-days of direct and indirect work, creating income avenues for local communities and marking a significant step in the Northeast’s infrastructure growth.