Assam Awaits Nod For Rs 60 Billion Brahmaputra Tunnel

08 Oct 2025 CW Team

Assam’s ambitious Rs 60 billion underwater tunnel project, India’s first to be built beneath a major river, is awaiting Union Cabinet approval, according to a report by The Times of India. The proposed tunnel will connect Numaligarh and Gohpur under the Brahmaputra River, significantly improving road connectivity and strengthening strategic infrastructure near Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China.

Estimated to take five years to complete, the project marks a major milestone in India’s transport and defence infrastructure planning. “The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready and will shortly be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval,” a senior Assam government official told ToI. The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by the Prime Minister, will grant final clearance.

The DPR, prepared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and technically reviewed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) through its Project Appraisal and Technical Scrutiny Committee (PATS), estimates the total tunnel length at 33.7 kilometres, including the connecting roadways.

NHIDCL will be responsible for executing the project, which has already received endorsement from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). However, the Board has called for further scientific studies on soil stability, groundwater impact, sediment behaviour, and seismic safety to ensure environmental and structural resilience.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying,

“I once thought this was just a dream. One day in Delhi, I was told that we could have a tunnel under the Brahmaputra. Now, the two banks — North and South — will come closer than ever.”

Once approved, the project will serve as a vital all-weather connectivity link between northern and southern Assam, easing logistics, improving access to remote areas, and enhancing military mobility along India’s northeastern frontier.

Infrastructure Transport

29 Oct 2025

Railways approves major upgrade for Telangana traction lines

The Ministry of Railways has approved the upgradation of the electric traction system in two crucial railway sections — Medchal–Mudkhed (225 km) and Mahbubnagar–Dhone (184 km). The projects, costing Rs 1.93 billion and Rs 1.23 billion respectively, will enhance the electric traction capacity from 1X25 KV to 2X25 KV. The work includes modifications to circuit breakers and switching stations, along with the installation of additional conductors. These routes serve as vital links between Northern and Southern India via Hyderabad. Once completed, the upgraded system will reduce voltage dro..

Adani to invest Rs 425 billion more in Maharashtra’s Dighi Port

The Adani Group has committed to invest an additional Rs 425 billion in the Dighi Port project, located along Maharashtra’s coastal Konkan belt, government officials announced on Monday. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)-run Dighi Ports signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to undertake the expansion of the port and related infrastructure. This new commitment comes as part of a broader investment initiative by the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the agreement is among 15 MoUs worth over Rs 560 billion signed during the opening d..

HUDCO, JNPA sign Rs 50 billion deal for port development

In a strategic move, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) for an investment of Rs 50 billion to revamp and develop port infrastructure. The non-binding agreement is intended to strengthen cooperation on both existing and upcoming infrastructure projects, with a focus on development, financing, and refinancing of port facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port. The MoU was formalised with the signatures of Sanjay Kulshrestha, Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO, and Unmesh Shar..