Underwater tunnel in Brahmaputra: The man behind the idea

Guwahati: Before an underwater tunnel in the Brahmaputra to connect Misa in Nagaon district in the south bank with Tezpur in Sonitpur district in the north bank got in-principle approval from the central government, it was just an idea for Dr Shyam Sunder Porwal.

The then Additional Director General of Eastern Zone of Border Roads organization said he thought an underwater tunnel would have strategic importance as it will provide round-the-year connectivity between Assam and Arunchal Pradesh.

So in 2014, he conducted two surveys before the proposal was submitted to the government for approval. Six years later in 2020, the Centre gave its nod for the construction of the tunnel that will witness use of state-of-the-art technology.