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◆ Infrastructure & Projects · Assam · T2

Cabinet approves Rs 18,662 crore Twin Tube TBM tunnel under Brahmaputra in Assam

The Cabinet has approved construction of a twin tube underwater tunnel beneath the River Brahmaputra in Assam, spanning 33.7 kilometres with dual provisions for road and railway infrastructure.

EastMojo Intelligence · auto-published from public sources · 4 d ago

The Cabinet has cleared the construction of a Twin Tube TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) road-and-rail underwater tunnel under the River Brahmaputra in Assam at a cost of Rs 18,662 crore, according to a release issued on 14 February 2026.[1][2]

The project involves the construction of twin tubes, each equipped with two lanes for vehicular traffic.[1] Additionally, one of the tubes will have provision for railway infrastructure, allowing both road and rail transport through a single structure.[1]

The total length of the underwater tunnel is 33.7 kilometres.[1] The use of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology indicates the project will employ mechanised tunnelling methods to bore through the riverbed without requiring open excavation at the surface.

The Rs 18,662 crore allocation represents a significant infrastructure investment for the state.[2] The dual-purpose design—accommodating both road and rail networks within the twin tubes—is intended to serve multiple transport requirements across the Brahmaputra without requiring separate tunnel structures for each mode.

The Cabinet approval marks a major step forward in the project's execution phase. The underwater tunnel, once constructed, is expected to provide critical connectivity and reduce transit time across the river, which is one of the largest river systems in India and a major geographical barrier in Assam.

Specific details regarding the timeline for construction, the project's connecting points on either side of the Brahmaputra, and the operational capacity of the road and rail sections have not been disclosed in the Cabinet decision announcement.[1][2]

The project falls under the category of tenders and infrastructure development, signalling the government's commitment to enhancing transportation networks in the Northeast region.

Key facts

  • Cabinet approved construction of a twin tube TBM underwater tunnel under River Brahmaputra in Assam.[1][2]
  • The project is valued at Rs 18,662 crore.[2]
  • The tunnel spans 33.7 kilometres in total length.[1]
  • Each tube features two lanes for vehicular traffic.[1]
  • One of the tubes includes provision for railway infrastructure.[1]
  • The project approval was announced on 14 February 2026.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Google News (multi-source) — Cabinet approves construction of Twin Tube TBM road Underwater tunnel 2 Lane each under River Brahmaputra along with provision of Railway infrastructure in one of the tubes, in Assam with total length of 33.7 Km · source · 2026-02-14T08:00:00.000Z
  2. Google News (multi-source) — Cabinet clears Rs 18,662 crore underwater road-rail tunnel under Brahmaputra in Assam · source · 2026-02-14T08:00:00.000Z

This report was drafted and published automatically from the public sources listed below, without individual editorial review. Spotted an error? Write to corrections@eastmojo.com.

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