NHIDCL awards DPR for Gohpur-Numaligarh Tunnel under Brahmaputra

GUWAHATI: The Centre has taken another step forward in the construction of the proposed under-river Gohpur-Numaligarh tunnel, the first such tunnel under the river Brahmaputra in Assam.

Recently, the New Delhi headquarters of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) engaged M/s Yuksel Proje Anonim Sirketi- Louis Berger, a joint venture (JV) firm, for preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) and pre-construction activities, after evaluation of bids.

The feasibility report for the stretch has already been prepared by NHIDCL. In the report, it has been concluded that the project is feasible.

The proposed tunnel is a strategic tunnel, given the proximity of Arunachal Pradesh and the international border. So, it was essential to get the approval of various ministries, and it was subsequently granted.

It is necessary to mention here that only one company participated during the first tender call for the preparation of DPR and pre-construction activities for the project. So, fresh bids (second call) were invited by NHIDCL as per Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines.

After evaluation of the bids submitted in the second call, the NHIDCL gave the work to M/s Yuksel Proje Anonim Sirketi - Louis Berger.

According to a source at the regional office of NHIDCL at Guwahati, the JV firm will prepare and submit the DPR within six months of their appointment date.

Notably, the NHIDCL earlier conducted a survey on the feasibility of the tunnel project and finalized its alignment. The tentative length of the project is 33.7 kilometres, inclusive of the tunnel and the road from Gohpur to Numaligarh. The depth of the tunnel can be gauged from the fact that the top of the tunnel crown is proposed to be approximately 32 metres below the lowest bed level of the river Brahmaputra, which itself is very deep at this stretch.

According to the NHIDCL, it was decided to construct the tunnel under the Brahmaputra due to strategic reasons, emphasizing the nation's defence-security perspective. The proposed project corridor of the Gohpur-Numaligarh section is on the Greenfield alignment.

The key objectives of the project are: (i) to provide relief to the existing traffic on NH-37, located south of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve; (ii) to provide direct connectivity between Bongaon, near Numaligarh on NH-37, and Gohpur on NH-52; (iii) to strategically enhance the security of the nation by providing connectivity through a tunnel for movement of defence personnel into Arunachal Pradesh, etc.

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