The government is planning to construct a strategically important Integrated multi-modal rail and road transport corridor in the Northeast, the first in the country.
Under the project, two road tube tunnels and one rail tube tunnel will be constructed under the Brahmaputra river. Apart from this, a rail-road infrastructure will be built for the rail-road missing connections, including several new rail lines, a railway station, a loop line, and a station yard. With the help of this mega rail-road transport corridor, logistics ammunition, military vehicles, and armed forces can reach the China border of Tawang, North Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh faster. Indian Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), and Ministry of Defence Border Roads' Organisation (BRO) will jointly achieve the project estimated to cost about Rs 7,700 crore. Last month, The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) gave a project presentation to the Railway Board. A senior official said there is a proposal to construct two road tube tunnels and one rail tube tunnel, approximately 10 km long, under the Brahmaputra river. Apart from this, a new railway line of 121.33 km-long will be laid between Rangpara-Tawang. This new rail line will link Tawang, Bhalukpong, Senga, Rupa, and Rangpara. A new railway line will also be laid between Dekragaon-Jamugurihar and Dhalaibil-Jakhlabandh. A new railway station is proposed to be constructed between Dhalaibil-Jamugurihar with an improved number of platforms, a loop line, and station premises. The official said there are plans to lay an added rail line between South Portal-Silghat. It is not possible to go to the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra river due to the missing connection of the railroad in the Northeast. Because of this, rail-road connectivity will be developed on a priority basis. A rail-two road tube tunnel will play a strategic part. For the first time in the nation, infrastructure is being built for strategic objectives so that there will be direct rail-road connectivity from North Assam to Tawang and Arunachal Pradesh’s China border. Three tunnels will be constructed under the Brahmaputra river for the first time. Earlier, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), an undertaking of the Ministry of Road Transport, had designed a plan to construct a tunnel under the river. Image Source
