Gamechanger: Numaligarh- Gohpur Travel Time Slashed to 20 minutes with India's First Underwater Road Cum Railway Tunnel

Assam is on the brink of a transformative infrastructure revolution. Addressing the media, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled two landmark projects that promise to redefine connectivity in the Northeast — a high-speed economic corridor linking Silchar, Shillong and Guwahati, and India’s first road-cum-rail underwater tunnel beneath the mighty Brahmaputra River.

Both projects are expected to dramatically cut travel time, boost trade, and strengthen strategic mobility in the region.

Silchar–Shillong–Guwahati High-Speed Corridor: A Game Changer

The foundation stone of the ambitious Silchar–Shillong–Guwahati High-Speed Corridor will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March.

 Key Highlights:

• Project Cost: ₹22,864 crore
• Largest National Highway project undertaken by the Government of India in Assam
• Travel time between Silchar and Guwahati to reduce to 4.5–5 hours

Currently, the journey between Silchar and Guwahati is long and exhausting due to hilly terrain and road congestion. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly improve inter-city mobility and enhance trade, tourism, and emergency access across southern and central Assam.

Assam CM describes it as a “game changer” that will unlock new economic potential across Barak Valley and beyond.

 India’s First Road-Cum-Rail Underwater Tunnel: Gohpur–Numaligarh Breakthrough

In another historic move, the Union Cabinet has approved the 33.7 km four-lane corridor between Gohpur and Numaligarh, featuring a 15.79 km tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River.

•  Project Cost: ₹18,662 crore
  Construction Period: 5 years

This tunnel will be India’s first road-cum-rail underwater tunnel and only the second such project in the world.

 Distance Slashed, Time Reduced Drastically!

The transformation is dramatic:

The tunnel alone will cut nearly 206 km from the existing route between Gohpur and Numaligarh.

A Technological Marvel Beneath the Brahmaputra

• The project will feature twin tubes:
• Each tube will have a two-lane highway.
• One tube will incorporate a rail-cum-road facility.
• Four-lane road operations during normal times.
• Railway functionality will be activated only during emergencies.

The railway line will be embedded into the road surface instead of the traditional ballast-based track system.

Once completed, this will be:

• The 4th rail-cum-road crossing over the Brahmaputra.

A strategic infrastructure asset enhancing both civilian mobility and emergency logistics.

 Strategic & Economic Impact

The projects are expected to:

• Strengthen connectivity between Upper and Lower Assam
• Boost industrial growth around Numaligarh
• Improve access to Arunachal Pradesh
• Enhance defence mobility in strategically sensitive zones

Promote tourism and regional trade

With investments totaling over ₹41,500 crore across both projects, Assam is positioning itself as a critical infrastructure hub in Northeast India.

As groundwork begins and timelines are set, the state appears poised for one of the most significant connectivity upgrades in its history — one that could reshape economic geography and regional integration for decades to come.

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