Date: 2026-02-14Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Cabinet approves construction of Twin Tube TBM road Underwater tunnel 2 Lane each under River Brahmaputra along with provision of Railway infrastructure in one of the tubes, in Assam with total length of 33.7 Km
**Executive Summary**
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the construction of a 4-lane access-controlled greenfield connectivity project in Assam. This includes a twin-tube underwater tunnel under the River Brahmaputra, with one tube accommodating railway infrastructure. The total project length is 33.7 km and will be developed with an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model. The announcement was made on February 14, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Overview:**
* Construction of a 4-lane Access-Controlled Greenfield connectivity from Gohpur (NH-15) to Numaligarh (NH-715).
* Includes a 15.79 km Road cum Rail Tunnel under the River Brahmaputra, featuring twin tubes.
* Total project length: 33.7 km.
* To be developed under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model.
* The underwater tunnel will be the first of its kind in India and the second in the world.
* **Financial Details:**
* Total capital cost: Rs. 18,662 crore.
* Total Civil Cost: Rs. 11,982.36 Cr.
* Land Acquisition Cost: Rs. 716.65 Cr.
* **Connectivity and Integration:**
* Integrates with National Highways NH-15 and NH-715.
* Connects with Rangia-Mukongselek Railway Section (Rangia Division of NFR) and Furkating-Mariani loop line section (Tinsukia Division of NFR).
* Enhances multi-modal integration by connecting with economic, social, tourist, and logistic nodes.
* Connects to 4 Major Railway Stations, 2 Airports, and 2 inland waterways.
* **Location and Impact Area**
* Project corridor: Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh on NH-715
* Major cities connected: Numaligarh, Tezpur, Gohpur, Dibrugarh in Assam, and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh
* **Projected Benefits:**
* Enhances freight movement efficiency and reduces logistics costs.
* Drives socio-economic growth in Assam and other North-Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland).
* Facilitates faster movement of goods and passengers.
* Strengthens connectivity between major economic centers.
* Opens new avenues for trade and industrial development.
* Generates approximately 80 Lakhs person-days of direct and indirect employment.
**Impact Analysis**
**Key Stakeholders: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other North -Eastern States.**
* **Impact**: Improved connectivity, increased economic activity due to better freight movement and reduced logistics costs, socio-economic growth, and new opportunities for trade and industrial development.
* **Action Required**: None explicitly stated in the document.
**Key Stakeholders: Businesses and Industries in Assam and surrounding regions**
* **Impact**: New avenues for growth, development, and prosperity.
* **Action Required**: None explicitly stated in the document.
**Key Stakeholders: Workforce in Assam and surrounding regions**
* **Impact**: The project will create approximately 80 Lakhs person-days of direct and indirect employment, opening new avenues of growth, development, and prosperity.
* **Action Required**: None explicitly stated in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA): Approves the construction of the underwater tunnel project.
River Brahmaputra: The river under which the tunnel will be constructed. Its geography is central to the project.
NH-15: One of the major National Highways connecting to the underwater tunnel project.
NH-715: Another major National Highway connecting to the underwater tunnel project.
Assam: The state where the project will be implemented.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Cabinet approves construction of Twin Tube TBM
road Underwater tunnel 2 Lane each under River
Brahmaputra along with provision of Railway
infrastructure in one of the tubes, in Assam with
total length of 33.7 Km
Posted On: 14 FEB 2026 12:56PM by PIB Delhi
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
yesterday has approved construction of 4-Lane Access-Controlled Greenfield connectivity from Gohpur
on NH-15 to Numaligarh on 715 section including 15.79 Km. of Road cum Rail Tunnel under River
Brahmaputra to be developed at a total capital cost of Rs.18,662 crore in Assam on Engineering
procurement Construction (EPC).
Currently, connectivity between Numaligarh on NH715 and Gohpur on NH-15 is 240 Km. from existing
Kaliabhambhora road bridge near Silghat on NH-52 which takes 6 Hours passing through Numaligarh,
Kaziranga National park and Biswanath Town. To address these challenges, the project is proposed to be
developed as 4-Lane Access-Controlled Greenfield connectivity from Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh
with Road cum Rail tunnel below the river Brahmaputra river. This would be first underwater Road cum
Rail tunnel in the India and 2nd in world. The project will provide significant benefit to Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland and other North -Eastern States. This will enhance the efficiency of freight movement,
reducing logistics cost and driving socio-economic growth in the region.
The project alignment integrates with 02 major National Highways (NH-15 and NH-715) and 02 Railway
lines i.e. Rangia-Mukongselek Railway Section under Rangia Division of NFR on Gohpur Side and
Furkating-Mariani loop line section under Tinsukia Division of NFR on Numaligarh side. The project
providing seamless connectivity to key economic, social, and logistics nodes across Assam. Additionally,
the project will enhance multi-modal integration by connecting with 11 Economic Nodes, 03 Social
Nodes, 02 Tourist nodes and 08 Logistic Nodes, providing enhanced connectivity with 04 Major Railway
Station, 02 Airport, and 2 inland water way thereby facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers
across the region.
Upon completion, the project will play a pivotal role in strategic considerations, regional economic
growth, strengthening connectivity between major economic centers and opening new avenues for trade
and industrial development. The project will also generate approximately 80 Lakhs person-days of direct
and indirect employment, and will open new avenues of growth, development and prosperity in
surrounding regions.
Map of Corridor:Project Details
Feature Details
Project Name Construction of Twin Tube TBM road Underwater
tunnel 2 Lane each under River Brahmaputra along
with provision of Railway infrastructure in one of the
tubes, in the state of Assam on EPC Mode with total
length of project as 33.7 Km.
Corridor Gohpur on NH-15 – Numaligarh on NH-715
Length (km) 33.7 Km.
Total Civil Cost (Rs Cr.) 11,982.36 Cr.
Land Acquisition Cost (Rs Cr.) 716.65
Total Capital Cost (Rs Cr.) 18,662.02
Mode Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC).
Project Length Instant Project of Length 33.77 Km.
Twin Tube TBM Tunnel with 15.79 Km.
Railway in one of the tubesTotal Road cut & cover 1.26 Km.
Total Rail cut & cover 4 Km.
Major Roads Connected National Highways – NH-15 & NH715
Rail Line connected Rangia-Mukongselek Railway Section under Rangia
Division of NFR on Gohpur Side
Furkating-Mariani loop line section under Tinsukia
Division of NFR on Numaligarh side
Economic / Social / Transport Airports (02 ) : Dony Paulo Holongi Airport Itanagar
Nodes Connected and Tezpur Airport
Railway Stations (04) : Numaligarh Railway Station,
Gohpur Railway Station, Golaghat Town Railway
Station, Simaluguri Junction
Inland Water way Terminals (02): Biswanath Ghat
Water way terminal, Tezpur Water way terminal
Economic Nodes (11) : Numaligarh Industrial Area,
Jorhat DIC, IIDC Titabor, Industrial Area Junakinagar,
Industrial Estate Nagaon, IIDC Demow, Industrial
Estate Sivasagar, IIDC Naltali, Industrial Area
Dolabari, Mini Industrial Area Biswanath, MMLP
Jogighopa.
Social Nodes (03) : 1 Tribal district – Dima Hasao; 02
Aspirations Districts-Udalguri & Darrang
Tourist Nodes (02) : Kaziranga National Park &
Deopahar Archaeological Site
Major Cities / Towns Connected Numaligarh, Tezpur, Gohpur Dibrugarh in Assam &
Itanagar In Arunachal Pradesh
Employment Generation 80 Lakhs Man-Days of Direct & In-direct
Potential
Annual Average Daily Traffic Estimated at 4680 Passenger Car Units (PCU)
(AADT) in FY-25
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