By Ashley Karen
As a military response to China’s strategy in the troubled border region, India is arranging to construct a road tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in the northeast of the country.
Crossing the river at one of its widest points, the suggested 12-15km tunnel is going to be placed 22m under the river bed and will have twin tubes, each with two traffic lanes. Plus giving the Indian army unhindered vehicle movement in a highly sensitive area, the tunnel will also decrease the journey time between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. With costs measured up to US$680m, the tunnel section is going to connect 18km of approach roads and will be constructed by the Indian army.
The Brahmaputra River flows through India, Bangladesh, and Tibet, emptying into the Bay of Bengal. This river is India’s widest one, with a channel that can be up to 18.6km at the widest.
