Source: IE
Subject: Mapping
Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River in Assam at a cost of ₹18,662 crore.
About Country’s First Underwater Road-cum-Rail Tunnel under Brahmaputra River:
What it is?
- A 33.7 km four-lane access-controlled Greenfield connectivity project, including a 15.79 km twin-tube underwater tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
- It will connect Gohpur (NH-15) and Numaligarh (NH-715), reducing distance from 240 km to 34 km.
Key Features:
- Twin-Tube Underwater Tunnel: Two parallel tubes ensure traffic segregation, safety redundancy, and easier emergency evacuation.
- Road-cum-Rail Connectivity: Combines highway and railway infrastructure to enable seamless passenger and freight movement.
- EPC Mode Development: Government funds the project while a contractor handles end-to-end execution under fixed timelines.
- Cost – ₹18,662 crore: Reflects large-scale investment in high-end tunnelling, safety systems, and connectivity infrastructure.
About Brahmaputra River:
What it is?
The Brahmaputra River is one of the largest rivers of Central and South Asia and ranks among the world’s top rivers in terms of average discharge.
Origin:
- Originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Mapam in Tibet at ~5,300 m elevation.
- Known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang/Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
Nations it flows through: China (Tibet Autonomous Region), India, and Bangladesh.
Indian States it flows through:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- (Drainage basin also covers Nagaland, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Sikkim)
Key Features of the Brahmaputra River:
- Length – ~2,900 km: Flows from the Tibetan Plateau to the Bay of Bengal, making it one of Asia’s longest rivers.
- Massive Discharge: Among the world’s highest river discharges, contributing significantly to the Ganga-Brahmaputra system.
- World’s Deepest Gorge: Cuts through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, one of the deepest gorges globally.
- Highly Braided Channel: In Assam, heavy sediment and reduced slope create multiple shifting river channels.
- Delta Formation: Merges with the Ganga to form the world’s largest delta in Bangladesh.
