Experts suggest building of underwater tunnels in Brahmaputra on the lines of English Channel

GUWAHATI: Security experts have mooted the idea of building underwater tunnels in river Brahmaputra in Assam on the lines of English Channel tunnel for transportation purpose.

Speaking at at the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)’s road show in Guwahati, general officer commanding of 101 Area in Shillong, Lt Gen D S Ahuja said the tunnels connecting north and south banks of Brahmaputra can serve a means of logistic movement during war and peace.

Lt Gen Ahuja said: “Along with the development of Brahmaputra for inland waterway, the idea of constructing tunnels in Guwahati and Dibrugarh should also be explored on the lines of English Channel tunnel for transportation.”


Government of India is already developing Brahmaputra for inland waterways. The 891-km stretch of Brahmaputra from Sadiya in the eastern part of Assam and Dhubri in the west was declared National Waterway-II.

Union minister of Roads, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari recently stated that Bangladesh has accorded clearance for dredging Brahmaputra from Sadiya in Assam to Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

Gadkari said necessary formalities with the Bangladesh Government has also been completed for dredging of river Brahmaputra. Gadkari said once the project is materialised, this will change the entire economic corridor of Assam as Brahmaputra National waterway-II will have direct access to Chittagong port of Bangladesh, Haldia port of West Bengal. This will consequently boost up trade with the South-east Asian nations.