Assam – The Union Cabinet is expected to approve a landmark infrastructure project this week — a ₹18,600‑crore road‑cum‑rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam. The proposal is likely to be cleared at one of the final Cabinet meetings chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at South Block before operations shift to the new Secretariat complex.
If sanctioned, the tunnel will be India’s first twin-tube underwater corridor designed to carry both vehicles and trains. The route will connect Gohpur on the river’s north bank with Numaligarh on the south, reducing travel time from nearly four hours to just 30-35 minutes.
Beyond easing civilian travel, the project carries strategic weight. Assam’s proximity to international borders and the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor — often called the “Chicken’s Neck” — makes faster troop and logistics movement a key consideration. Officials have described the tunnel as vital for both connectivity and national security.
The initiative is part of the Centre’s broader push to accelerate infrastructure development in the Northeast, which has seen a surge in road, rail, and bridge projects over the past decade. Once completed, the Brahmaputra tunnel will stand among the country’s largest underwater transport projects, underscoring the government’s emphasis on integrating the region more closely with the national economy.
