New Delhi’s power corridors echoed with cheers for Northeast India’s future as the CCEA, under PM Modi’s leadership, approved a game-changing Rs 18,662 crore project. This EPC-mode marvel features a 71.5 km 4-lane greenfield expressway on NH-15 from Gohpur to Numaligarh, complete with a pioneering 15.79 km road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra—the first in India and second globally.
The existing route? A tedious 240 km haul over NH-52’s Kaliyabhomora bridge, skirting Kaziranga’s wild expanses and Biswanath, clocking six laborious hours. Say goodbye to that nightmare; the new link promises swift, direct passage.
Interweaving highways NH-15 and NH-715 with NFR rail segments—Rangiya-Mukongsellek and Furkating-Mariani—this project knits together 11 economic hubs, 3 social centers, 2 tourist gems, and 8 logistics nodes. It enhances connectivity to four railway stations, two airports, and two waterways, supercharging cargo flow and passenger mobility.
Benefits cascade across Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland, and beyond: optimized freight, reduced costs, accelerated growth. From a strategic lens, it bolsters defenses and ignites industrial booms. Expect 80 lakh man-days of jobs, sparking local economies into high gear. This isn’t just a tunnel; it’s a lifeline for the Northeast’s ascent.