Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project, Key Features, Significance

The Government of India has approved the construction of a twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It will be India’s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project. It is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity, economic growth, and strategic mobility in the North-Eastern region.

Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project Need

At present, connectivity between Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 is indirect and inefficient. The existing route is about 240 km long and takes nearly six hours, as it relies on limited bridge crossings over the Brahmaputra and passes through ecologically sensitive areas near Kaziranga National Park. This results in traffic congestion, higher fuel consumption, delays in freight movement, and pressure on wildlife corridors. The lack of direct all-weather connectivity also affects economic activity and strategic mobility in the North-East, especially toward Arunachal Pradesh and other border regions. 

Therefore, the twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel is needed to provide a shorter, faster, and more reliable route, reduce logistics costs, protect fragile ecosystems, and strengthen regional and strategic connectivity

Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project Key Features

Key features of the twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel are: 

• The project will create a 4-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam.
• The total length of the project is about 33.7 km.
• It includes a 15.79 km twin-tube underwater tunnel under the Brahmaputra River.
• The tunnel will be constructed using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology.
• Each tube will carry two lanes of road traffic, while railway infrastructure will be provided in one of the tubes.
• The project will be developed at a total capital cost of about ₹18,662 crore.
• It will be implemented under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.
• The corridor will connect two major national highways—NH-15 and NH-715.
• It will also integrate with two railway sections on both sides of the river.
• The project is expected to generate around 80 lakh person-days of direct and indirect employment.
• It will connect major economic, social, tourist, and logistics nodes across Assam and the Northeast.
• It is expected to be India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel

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Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel Project Significance 

• Boost to regional connectivity: Provides a direct, all-weather link across the Brahmaputra, reducing travel distance and time between Gohpur and Numaligarh.
• Economic growth and logistics efficiency: Facilitates faster freight movement, lowers transportation costs, and connects major industrial and economic nodes in Assam and the Northeast.
• Strategic and border infrastructure: Strengthens connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh and other border states, improving military mobility and national security preparedness.
• Multi-modal transport integration: Integrates highways, railways, airports, and inland waterways, creating a seamless transport network across the region.
• Environmental and social benefits: Reduces traffic pressure near ecologically sensitive areas like Kaziranga National Park and improves access to education,healthcare, and employment in remote districts.

Thus, the Twin Tube Road-Cum-Rail Tunnel under the Brahmaputra is a landmark infrastructure project that will enhance connectivity, economic development, and strategic preparedness in the Northeast. It represents a major step toward integrated, multi-modal, and sustainable regional development.