Underwater Road Tunnel in Assam

Underwater Road Tunnel in Assam 
The proposed construction of the first underwater road tunnel on the Brahmaputra River in Assam will be seen as a landmark infrastructure project in India. The project, which is planned between Numaligarh and Gohpur, is both strategic and economically important considering it is located close to Arunachal Pradesh on the India-China border. The tunnel will significantly enhance connectivity in the Northeast since it has a budget of about 6,000 crore and a five-year completion schedule once it is approved. Upon its completion, it will be a significant milestone in the engineering history of the country since it is the first roadway tunnel to be built across a large river.

Project: India’s first underwater road tunnel under the Brahmaputra River (between Numaligarh and Gohpur, Assam).

Status: Detailed Project Report (DPR) completed; awaiting Union Cabinet approval.

Implementing Agency: National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Length: ~33.7 km (including tunnel and approach roads).

Depth: Tunnel crown ~32 m below the riverbed.

Budget: ₹6,000 crore.

Timeline: Construction expected to take 5 years after approval.

Clearances: Approved by the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee; scientific studies on soil, water, sediment, and seismic impact required.

Strategic Importance: Enhances connectivity near Arunachal Pradesh (bordering China); considered important for defence and security.

Significance: First roadway tunnel in India to pass across a large river, enhancing linkage between the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra.

Conclusion
The proposed underwater road tunnel across the Brahmaputra between Numaligarh and Gohpur is likely to become an eminent project in the history of infrastructure in India. It will contribute to improving the connection of the Northeast region greatly, making access in the area strategic and closer to the Chinese border, as well as improve the development of the economy with a budget of ₹6,000 crore and a five-year construction plan. This is the first roadway tunnel that crosses a large river in India; it is an important engineering and strategic milestone.