Cabinet Clears Rs 186.62 Billion Underwater Road Rail Tunnel
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Cabinet Clears Rs 186.62 Billion Underwater Road Rail Tunnel

The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of an underwater road and rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra in Assam at a cost of Rs 186.62 billion (Rs 18,662 crore). The project cost was announced as Rs 18,662 crore and will be funded by the central government. The decision is expected to mark a major step in enhancing connectivity in the northeast. Officials said the approval follows inter-ministerial deliberations and is part of a broader push to upgrade transport infrastructure in the region.

The tunnel will provide a direct multimodal link across the river, aiming to reduce travel time and improve reliability for passenger and freight movement. Officials indicated the development will support regional trade and integration with national corridors. The scheme is positioned as a strategic infrastructure intervention to boost economic activity in Assam and neighbouring areas. Improved year-round access across the river is expected to benefit local communities, reduce logistical bottlenecks and support disaster response capabilities.

The project will proceed through detailed engineering, environmental clearances and phased construction under government supervision. Authorities have emphasised adherence to environmental and safety standards while undertaking underwater tunnelling. A dedicated project management structure will oversee procurement, technical audits and monitoring of progress. Contractors will be selected through transparent competitive bidding processes.

The investment is likely to generate employment during construction and to strengthen logistics resilience for the region on completion. Analysts noted that such large scale interventions can catalyse ancillary investments in roads, urban services and industry. The Cabinet approval is the precursor to work commencing on the ground once requisite statutory and procedural clearances are secured. The government will publish detailed project reports and timelines as statutory approvals are completed and contracts are finalised.

The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of an underwater road and rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra in Assam at a cost of Rs 186.62 billion (Rs 18,662 crore). The project cost was announced as Rs 18,662 crore and will be funded by the central government. The decision is expected to mark a major step in enhancing connectivity in the northeast. Officials said the approval follows inter-ministerial deliberations and is part of a broader push to upgrade transport infrastructure in the region. The tunnel will provide a direct multimodal link across the river, aiming to reduce travel time and improve reliability for passenger and freight movement. Officials indicated the development will support regional trade and integration with national corridors. The scheme is positioned as a strategic infrastructure intervention to boost economic activity in Assam and neighbouring areas. Improved year-round access across the river is expected to benefit local communities, reduce logistical bottlenecks and support disaster response capabilities. The project will proceed through detailed engineering, environmental clearances and phased construction under government supervision. Authorities have emphasised adherence to environmental and safety standards while undertaking underwater tunnelling. A dedicated project management structure will oversee procurement, technical audits and monitoring of progress. Contractors will be selected through transparent competitive bidding processes. The investment is likely to generate employment during construction and to strengthen logistics resilience for the region on completion. Analysts noted that such large scale interventions can catalyse ancillary investments in roads, urban services and industry. The Cabinet approval is the precursor to work commencing on the ground once requisite statutory and procedural clearances are secured. The government will publish detailed project reports and timelines as statutory approvals are completed and contracts are finalised.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code