The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a four-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715) in Assam. The landmark project will feature India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River.
To be executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode at a total cost of ₹18,662 crore, the 33.7-kilometre corridor includes a 15.79-km twin-tube tunnel driven by Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Each tube will accommodate two road lanes, with one tube also provisioned for railway infrastructure. Upon completion, it will become the first underwater road-rail tunnel in India and only the second such structure globally.
Currently, travel between Numaligarh and Gohpur covers around 240 kilometres via the Kaliabhomora bridge near Silghat, taking nearly six hours and passing through areas including Kaziranga National Park and Biswanath Town. The new alignment is designed to significantly reduce travel time, decongest existing routes and ensure reliable, all-weather connectivity.
Strategically, the corridor is expected to enhance connectivity across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other Northeastern states, while lowering logistics costs and improving freight efficiency. It will integrate with National Highways NH-15 and NH-715 and link key railway lines, including the Rangia–Murkongselek section under the Rangia Division of Northeast Frontier Railway on the Gohpur side and the Furkating–Mariani loop line under the Tinsukia Division on the Numaligarh side.
The project will also strengthen multimodal transport by connecting 11 economic nodes, three social nodes, two tourist destinations and eight logistics hubs. It will provide seamless links to four major railway stations, two airports and two inland waterways terminals, facilitating smoother passenger and freight movement throughout the region.
Beyond its connectivity benefits, the corridor carries significant economic and strategic implications. It is projected to generate around 80 lakh person-days of employment, both direct and indirect, stimulate industrial growth and unlock new trade opportunities across the Brahmaputra valley.
Officials said the mega infrastructure initiative highlights the Centre’s continued focus on transformative, technology-driven projects aimed at accelerating long-term socio-economic development in the Northeast.
