Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the Gohpur-Numaligarh tunnel project is nearing completion. Assam's first underwater tunnel to be constructed between Numaligarh and Gohpur at a cost of Rs 60 billion. Sarma has announced significant updates on various road infrastructure projects in Assam following a meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Sarma also provided an update on the Gohpur-Numaligarh tunnel project, stating that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is nearing completion. "Gadkari mentioned that once that is finished, we will proceed to the next steps," he said. Sarma earlier said. “I had a thought that there are several bridges over the river, can we have a tunnel under water. We know about the Atal tunnel of Jammu and Kashmir amidst the mountains. I was thinking, "Can we have a tunnel under the river Brahmaputra where railways can move, and vehicles can move.” He added, “I felt this thought might be a dream and left it. One day in Delhi I was told that we can have a tunnel under river Brahmaputra. Where it will come up, discussions took place. How much money will be required Rs 6000 Crore?” Sarma had said, “We decided it will come between Numaligarh and Gohpur where both rails and vehicles will move. The two banks of Brahmaputra North and south will come closer.” At a review meeting with Sarma and other senior officials of NHIDCL, NHAI and State PWD in the national capital, Union Minister Gadkari called for completion of the 28 ongoing projects that are running on schedule and for expediting completion of 11 numbers of delayed projects under NHIDCL in Assam. Following the plea of Chief Minister Sarma, Gadkari instructed the officials to expedite the completion of balance work of four-laning of 14-km stretch of Jorhat to Jhanji and from Jhanji to Demow stretching 11 km of NH 37 under SARDP-NE. Gadkari also asked the officials to put up road signages at proper places to prevent road mishaps on this vital portion of NH 37. The Chief Minister requested Gadkari for deputing a Minister of State to inspect the ongoing work of four-laning of NH 37 from Jorhat to Dibrugarh. The remaining work of four-laning of Demow to end of Moran bypass of NH 37, widening of four-lane with paved shoulder of Kawaram Taro Village-Dilai Section of NH 29 under NH(O), NE, including Manja bypass, four-laning of NH 37 from end of Moran bypass to Bogibeel, development and upgradation of four-laning from Jamugurihat end to Biswanath Chariali Bypass of NH 52, construction of Indunglo to Jatinga junction and from Jatinga to Harangajao of NH 54 also came up for detailed review. On Chief Minister's plea, Union Minister Gadkari asked the officials to complete the process for awarding the contract for the 121-km Guwahati Ring Road at an estimated cost of Rs.5,729 crore by November end, to submit DPR for the elevated corridor of over 85-km length over Kaziranga National Park at a cost of Rs.5,500 crore and re-tendering of Majuli bridge over the Brahmaputra.
