The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a four-lane access-controlled greenfield link from Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh on NH-715, featuring a twin-tube tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River with provision for railway infrastructure in one tube. The project has an overall length of 33.7 km, including a 15.79 km road cum rail tunnel, and will be procured on an engineering procurement construction basis at a total capital cost of Rs 18,662.02 crore, equivalent to about 186.62 billion (bn).\n\nExisting connectivity between Numaligarh and Gohpur is around 240 km and requires six hours by road via the Kaliabhambhora bridge, passing close to Numaligarh, Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath town, which limits the efficiency of movement. The new alignment is intended to reduce travel time, bypass ecologically sensitive areas and provide a more direct corridor for passengers and freight across the region.\n\nThe alignment integrates with NH-15 and NH-715 and connects with two railway sections, Rangia-Mukongselek on the Gohpur side and Furkating-Mariani loop on the Numaligarh side, providing seamless multimodal linkage. It will link to 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourist nodes and eight logistic nodes, and will connect four major railway stations, two airports and two inland waterway terminals, thereby facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers.\n\nPlanners expect the project to strengthen regional connectivity and support economic development across Assam and neighbouring States by improving freight efficiency and lowering logistics costs. Construction activity is estimated to generate approximately eight million (mn) person-days of direct and indirect employment and to open new avenues for trade, industry and investment in the North Eastern region. Stakeholders anticipate improved access to markets and services for local communities and expect the corridor to catalyse investment and spur allied economic activities in manufacturing, logistics and tourism across adjacent districts.