GUWAHATI: The Centre has given in-principle approval to construct a strategic tunnel under the Brahmaputra river, amid tension with China, according to sources.
The four-lane tunnel will link Gohpur and Numaligarh towns in Assam.
This is the first time that India will be constructing an under-river tunnel and it will close to the Chinese border. It will be longer than the under water tunnel being built by China below the Taihu Lake in Jiangsu province, as per report.
However, the Army had asked the government to consider building tunnels akin to the English Channel under the Brahmaputra because bridges can be targeted by enemy forces. This comes amid the tension between India and China along with Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The proposed tunnel in India is going to be very important strategically as it will provide year-long connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It will also help in transporting military supplies and ammunition as vehicles will be able to zoom past the tunnel at 80 kmph, according to sources.
