Executive Summary:
This Office Order, dated July 31, 2025, establishes a Joint Working Group (JWG) to assess the feasibility of rail and road tunnel projects during the alignment finalization and Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage. The JWG aims to promote integrated planning and cost-effective implementation by exploring combined rail-and-road tunnels and reciprocal evacuation arrangements. The JWG will submit a recommendation report to MoRTH and Railways Headquarters.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **JWG Constitution:**
* A Joint Working Group (JWG) is formed to integrate road and rail alignments for tunnel projects.
* The JWG will explore technical and economic feasibility of combined rail-and-road tunnels.
* **JWG Composition:**
* The JWG includes representatives from Indian Railways (Chief Engineer level and Divisional Engineer).
* It also includes a Regional Officer from MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL.
* Chief Engineer, BRO, will be a special invitee if the project falls under BRO jurisdiction.
* The Project Director or Divisional Engineer will serve as Member Secretary.
* **Scope and Terms of Reference:**
* **Coordination Mechanism:**
* For road projects, the road authority leads coordination with Indian Railways.
* For rail projects, Indian Railways leads coordination with MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL/BRO.
* Coordination defines the scope of DPRs, including railway/road requirements and opportunities for integrated configurations.
* **Technical and Financial Assessment:**
* The JWG will conduct a comparative analysis of standalone versus combined tunnel options.
* The assessment will evaluate alignment integration, construction/maintenance costs, technical feasibility (length, alignment, gradient), operational safety/evacuation, and ancillary facilities.
* **Recommendation Report:**
* The JWG will submit a recommendation report to MoRTH and Railways Headquarters.
* The report will recommend pursuing an integrated tunnel or reciprocal evacuation scheme.
* If feasible, a joint proposal framework, cost-sharing arrangements, and implementation roadmap will be included.
* If not feasible, a detailed techno-economic justification and identified constraints will be provided.
Impact Analysis:
* **Indian Railways:**
* Impact: Requires coordination with road authorities for tunnel projects and providing input on railway requirements within road tunnel projects.
* Action Required: Nominate a Chief Engineer-level representative and ensure participation of the concerned Divisional Engineer in the JWG.
* **MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL/BRO:**
* Impact: Requires coordination with Indian Railways for tunnel projects and providing input on road requirements within railway tunnel projects.
* Action Required: Nominate a Regional Officer to the JWG. The Chief Engineer, BRO, should participate as a special invitee when applicable.
* **State PWDs/Road Construction/Highways Departments:**
* Impact: Need to be aware of the new guidelines for integrated planning of rail and road tunnel projects.
* Action Required: Ensure that Engineers-in-Chief and Chief Engineers are informed and consider the guidelines in relevant projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Joint Working Group: A committee constituted to assess the feasibility of rail and road tunnel projects and promote integrated planning.
Indian Railways: A key stakeholder involved in rail project planning and coordination with road authorities for tunnel projects.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for road infrastructure development and coordination with other agencies.
National Highways Authority of India: An agency under MoRTH responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India.
National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.: An agency involved in the development of highway infrastructure, particularly in challenging terrains.
Border Roads Organisation: An organisation responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads in border areas.
Public Works Department: A state government department involved in construction and maintenance of public infrastructure, including roads and highways, in various States and Union Territories of India.
New Delhi: The location of several key organizations and departments mentioned in the document.
NH-12037/141 /2025/TUNNEL/ZONE-I
Government of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(Tunnel Zone)
Transport Bhawan, 1, Parliament Street, New Dethi-110001
Dated: 31% July, 2025
OFFICE ORDER
Subject: Constitution of a Joint Working Group for Feasibility Assessment of Rail-and-
Road Tunnel Projects at Alignment-Finalization/DPR Stage-reg.
In order to promote integrated planning and cost-effective implementation of
tunnel projects with overlapping or adjacent road and rail alignments, a Joint Working
Group (JWG) is hereby constituted at the project-initiation stage. The JWG will get
through the integration aspect of the road and rail alignments with the view to construct
both rail and road in common ROW. It will also explore the technical and economic
feasibility of constructing combined rail-and-road tunnels, including reciprocal evacuation
arrangements, wherever practicable.
Zz. Composition of the Joint Working Group (JWG)
The composition of the JWG shall comprise following officers:
(i) A Chief Engineer-level representative nominated by Indian Railways.
(ii) A Regional Officer from MoRTH 7 NHAI / NHIDCL.
(If the highway project falls under BRO jurisdiction, the Chief Engineer, BRO, will
also be part of JWG as special invitee.)
(iii) | The concerned Divisional Engineer, Indian Railways.
(iv) The concerned Project Director of NHAI /NHIDCL / Executive Engineer of
BRO/State PWD
The Project Director or Divisional Engineer, depending on tunnel jurisdiction, will
serve as Member-Secretary of the JWG.
£5 Scope and Terms of Reference
The JWG shall be responsible for the following tasks:
3.1 Coordination Mechanism
(i) For primarily road (NH) projects involving tunnel construction, the road
authority shall lead coordination with Indian Railways.
Page 1 of 3(ii) For primarily rail projects with tunnel construction, Indian Railways shall
lead coordination with concerned RO of MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL/BRO.
(iii) | The coordination shall define the scope of each Detailed Project Report
(DPR), including:
a) Railway requirements within MoRTH tunnel projects.
b) MoRTH requirements within Railway tunnel projects.
c) Opportunities for an integrated Rail-cum-Road tunnel configuration.
3.2 Technical and Financial Assessment
The JWG shall carry out a comparative analysis of standalone versus combined
tunnel options, evaluating:
a) Alignment integration of rail and road within a common ROW
b) Construction and lifecycle (maintenance) costs
c) Technical feasibility (tunnel length, alignment, gradient)
d) Operational safety, access and evacuation requirements
e) Ancillary tunnel facilities (e.g., shared escape/evacuation passages)
3.3. Recommendation Report: - The JWG will submit a recommendation to MoRTH and
Railways Headquarter with following details:
(i) Recommendation on pursuing an integrated Rail-and-Road tunnel or
reciprocal evacuation scheme.
= If feasible: joint proposal framework, cost-sharing arrangements and
implementation roadmap.
= If not feasible: detailed techno-economic justification and identified
constraints for each mode.
4. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
(Rahul Gupta)
(Rajesh Kumar Garg)
Executive Director /Gatishakti-Civil-| Chief Engineer (Tunnel)
MoRTH
Railway Board
Page 2 of 3To:
1. The Director General (Border Roads), Seema Sadak Bhawan, Ring Road, New Delhi-
110010.
2. The Chairman, National Highways Authority of India, G-5 & 6, Sector-10, Dwarka, New
Dethi-110075.
3. The Managing Director, National Highway infrastructure Development Corporation
Ltd.,2nd Floor, Tower A, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi - 110029
4. All Engineers-in-Chief and Chief Engineers of Public Works Department of States/
UTs/Road Construction Department/ Highways Departments (dealing with National
Highways and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes)
5. The Secretary General, Indian Roads Congress
6. The Director, IAHE, Noida, UP
Copy to:
1. The Chief Secretaries of all the State Governments/UTs.
2. The Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries of all States/ UTs Public Works Department/
Road Construction Department/ Highways Department (dealing with National Highways
and other centrally sponsored schemes)
3. Chairman Railway Board & Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Ministry of Railways, New
Dethi
een
Member(Infrastructure), Ministry of Railways, New Dethi
General Managers, All Indian Railways.
Chief Administrative Officer/Construction, All Indian Railways.
All CEs in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
All ROs of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NIC-for uploading on Ministry's website under “What's new”
ays
Copy for information to:
yaeps PS to Hon’ble Minister (RT&H)
PS to Hon’ble MoS(RT&H)
PSO to Secretary (RT&H)
PSO to DG(RD)&SS
Sr. PPS/PPS to ADGs/AS&FA/AS(NHIDCL Cell)/AS(Highways)
Page 3 of 3