The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Narendra Modi, approved the construction of India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
Key Details of the Project
FeatureDetails
Project Name: India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel project
Approving Authority: CCEA chaired by PM Modi
Total Outlay: ₹18,662 crore
Type: Twin-tube tunnel (road + rail)
Location: Between Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715)
Mode of Execution: Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) model
Travel Time Reduction: From ~6 hours to ~20 minutes
Employment Potential: Estimated ~80 lakh person-days (direct & indirect)
Strategic Importance: Regional connectivity & freight efficiency boost
Global Context: This tunnel will be India’s first and only the second underwater road-rail tunnel in the world, reflecting technological and engineering advancement.
Important Terms to Remember
CCEA: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs — Apex body for economic decisions in the Indian government.
Greenfield Project: New infrastructure built on previously undeveloped land.
EPC Model: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract in infrastructure.
Multimodal Connectivity: Integration of various transport modes (road, rail, waterways, air) to enhance network efficiency.
Strategic Infrastructure: Large-scale projects critical for national security and economic growth.
Useful Fact Add-Ons:
The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, and flows across Assam before entering Bangladesh to form the world’s largest delta with the Ganga and Meghna.
Major existing river crossings over Brahmaputra include Bogibeel Bridge, India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge, which plays a crucial role in regional connectivity.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
