Centre Clears India’s First Underwater Road-rail Tunnel in Assam

08 Jan 2026 CW Team

An inter-ministerial panel chaired by the Expenditure Secretary has granted in-principle approval for the construction of a 15.8-km-long twin-tube underwater tunnel between Gohpur and Numaligarh. One of the two tubes will house a single railway track, making it the country’s first underwater tunnel designed for both road and rail transport.

Officials said the project has been conceived to ensure faster mobilisation of security forces and military equipment during emergencies, while also improving connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and other northeastern states. Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Gohpur and Numaligarh from nearly six-and-a-half hours to just about 30 minutes. The effective travel distance will also come down sharply from around 240 km to 34 km.

The overall project length, including the underwater tunnel, approach roads and railway infrastructure, will be 33.7 km. The estimated project cost stands at approximately Rs 18,600 crore. The twin tunnels will be unidirectional, with two lanes each, and will be constructed at a depth of nearly 32 metres below the deepest bed level of the Brahmaputra.

As per the proposed design, the tube carrying the railway line will not permit vehicular movement during train operations. Trains will run on electricity on a specially designed ballastless track.

The cost of the project will be shared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Defence. Officials said the proposal will now be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval, which is expected ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. The project is targeted for completion within five years of the award of work.

The inclusion of a railway track, officials noted, has increased the project cost but will substantially enhance long-term connectivity and strategic capability in the region.

News source: Rediff

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

In a major infrastructure milestone, India is set to build its first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel across the Brahmaputra river in Assam, significantly strengthening strategic as well as civilian connectivity in the Northeast.An inter-ministerial panel chaired by the Expenditure Secretary has granted in-principle approval for the construction of a 15.8-km-long twin-tube underwater tunnel between Gohpur and Numaligarh. One of the two tubes will house a single railway track, making it the country’s first underwater tunnel designed for both road and rail transport.Officials said the project has been conceived to ensure faster mobilisation of security forces and military equipment during emergencies, while also improving connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and other northeastern states. Once operational, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Gohpur and Numaligarh from nearly six-and-a-half hours to just about 30 minutes. The effective travel distance will also come down sharply from around 240 km to 34 km.The overall project length, including the underwater tunnel, approach roads and railway infrastructure, will be 33.7 km. The estimated project cost stands at approximately Rs 18,600 crore. The twin tunnels will be unidirectional, with two lanes each, and will be constructed at a depth of nearly 32 metres below the deepest bed level of the Brahmaputra.As per the proposed design, the tube carrying the railway line will not permit vehicular movement during train operations. Trains will run on electricity on a specially designed ballastless track.The cost of the project will be shared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Defence. Officials said the proposal will now be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval, which is expected ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. The project is targeted for completion within five years of the award of work.The inclusion of a railway track, officials noted, has increased the project cost but will substantially enhance long-term connectivity and strategic capability in the region.News source: Rediff

Real Estate

07 Jul 2026

Panattoni Appoints Sharad Gohil as India CEO

Panattoni has appointed Sharad Gohil as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Panattoni India, strengthening its long-term growth strategy in the country. Gohil brings more than 25 years of experience across real estate investment, asset management, capital raising and fund management in Europe and the Asia Pacific region.He has completed more than US$4 billion of transactions across industrial, logistics, office, residential, retail and hospitality sectors. Before joining Panattoni, Gohil served as Chief Executive Officer of IndoSpace Capital Asia, where he oversaw a business with ..

Real Estate

07 Jul 2026

Metso India has received the ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Award 2026 in the category of Excellence in Mining Equipment Manufacturing, with a special focus on sustainability. The recognition highlights the company’s contribution to supporting the mining in

Isprava, India’s leading developer of luxury homes in non-urban destinations, has recently announced a collaboration with Courtside, Mumbai’s first padel social club, to launch The Isprava Court. The partnership brings Isprava’s design-led living philosophy into one of the city’s fastest-growing social sporting destinations.Located on the rooftop of Atria Mall in Worli, Courtside spans 20,000 sq. ft. and combines sport, wellness, hospitality and community experiences. Since its launch in February 2026, the venue has become a destination for Mumbai’s new-age audience seeking lifestyle..

Infrastructure Urban

07 Jul 2026

Metso Wins ASSOCHAM Award for Mining Equipment

Metso India has received the ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Award 2026 in the category of Excellence in Mining Equipment Manufacturing, with a special focus on sustainability. The recognition highlights the company’s contribution to supporting the mining industry’s demand for higher productivity while meeting environmental requirements.The award recognised Metso’s Metso Plus offerings, which are designed to improve efficiency and sustainability across mining and mineral processing operations. A key focus of the recognition was the company’s advanced grinding solutions, including Vertimil..