India has decided to build a tunnel under the mighty Brahmaputra River for unhindered movement of military vehicles to Arunachal Pradesh.
The tunnel would be located on the upstream of the Brahmaputra near Tezpur in Assam, connecting the north and south banks of the river. The project alignment starts from the foothill region of Arunachal Pradesh and develops connectivity between Gohpur on NH-52 (North Bank) and Numaligarh on NH-37 (South Bank) across River Brahmaputra in the state of Assam. The project is in the state of Assam and is expected to serve as a very prominent route connecting Itanagar – Gohpur – Numaligarh. This road will enhance the connectivity between the North and South side of Brahmaputra River.
According to the National Highways and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the construction of the 15.6 km long tunnel is expected to begin in December in three phases.
According to the Hindustan Times, the strategic tunnel will have two different large tubes or capsules for seamless movement of traffic from both the sides. The tunnel to be built 22 meters under the Brahmaputra will have four lanes, which can quickly transport men and war equipment including heavy artillery for deployment towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or the de facto border with China, without being exposed to the adversary.
The tunnel will have an electrical substation, sensors and CCTVs to monitor vehicular movement. The project will more than Rs 12,800 crores.
The construction of this tunnel is expected to give a strategic boost to India as it will provide year-long connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Once completed, this tunnel will be longer than the longest Chinese Taihu tunnel under Taihu Lake in Jiangsu province.
Also Read: PM Modi’s visit set to amplify Bangladesh’s role as bridge between South Asia and ASEAN
