Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that Assam’s first underwater tunnel will be constructed between Numaligarh and Gohpur at an estimated cost of Rs 6,000 crores. This landmark project will be the first-ever rail-road tunnel under the Brahmaputra river in northeast India. The tenders for the project are set to open next month.
Chief Minister Sarma revealed that he had once dreamt of such an underwater tunnel in Assam but was unsure of its feasibility. However, he shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now given the green signal to proceed with the construction. The state government embarked on a search for the most suitable location for the underwater tunnel, ultimately selecting Gohpur and Numaligarh.
Sarma emphasized that the decision to construct a tunnel under the Brahmaputra River was initiated after consultations with the central government. The high command in Delhi inquired about the feasibility of such a project, and after careful discussions, it was determined that a rail-road underwater tunnel between Gohpur and Numaligarh would be feasible. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6,000 crores .
