UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves construction of Twin Tube TBM road Underwater tunnel 2 Lane each under River Brahmaputra along with provision of Railway infrastructure in one of the tubes, in Assam with total length of 33.7 Km

Q1. The Gohpur–Numaligarh road-cum-rail tunnel project under the Brahmaputra, cleared in 2026, was approved by which of the following?

  • A. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister
  • B. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister
  • C. The NITI Aayog Governing Council, chaired by the Prime Minister
  • D. The Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, chaired by the Finance Minister

Q2. With reference to the Brahmaputra crossings approved by the Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. The Gohpur–Numaligarh corridor was approved at a total capital cost of ₹18,662 crore on EPC mode. 2. The new rail-cum-road bridge near the existing Saraighat bridge at Guwahati was approved at ₹996.75 crore, a cost shared between NHAI and the Ministry of Railways. 3. The Gohpur–Numaligarh tunnel is the costliest infrastructure project ever sanctioned by the Union Cabinet. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Gohpur–Numaligarh corridor was approved at a total capital cost of ₹18,662 crore on EPC mode.
  2. The new rail-cum-road bridge near the existing Saraighat bridge at Guwahati was approved at ₹996.75 crore, a cost shared between NHAI and the Ministry of Railways.
  3. The Gohpur–Numaligarh tunnel is the costliest infrastructure project ever sanctioned by the Union Cabinet.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the engineering configuration of the Gohpur–Numaligarh tunnel, consider the following statements: 1. It will be India's first road-cum-rail underwater tunnel. 2. It uses Twin Tube Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, with each tube carrying two lanes of road. 3. Railway infrastructure is to be laid within both tubes of the tunnel. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It will be India's first road-cum-rail underwater tunnel.
  2. It uses Twin Tube Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology, with each tube carrying two lanes of road.
  3. Railway infrastructure is to be laid within both tubes of the tunnel.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Gohpur–Numaligarh tunnel under the Brahmaputra is being described as India's first tunnel of which one of the following types?

  • A. Road-cum-rail underwater tunnel
  • B. Cross-border bi-national road tunnel
  • C. High-altitude twin-tube expressway tunnel
  • D. Underground metro tunnel beneath a national park

Q5. The greenfield access-controlled Gohpur–Numaligarh corridor, inclusive of the underwater tunnel, has a total length of approximately how many kilometres?

  • A. 15.79 km
  • B. 33.7 km
  • C. 45.6 km
  • D. 240 km

Q6. With reference to the alignment of the Gohpur–Numaligarh corridor, consider the following statements: 1. Its northern terminus is Gohpur on NH-15. 2. Its southern terminus is Numaligarh on NH-715. 3. The tunnel section beneath the Brahmaputra is 15.79 km long. 4. The corridor is aligned directly through the core zone of Kaziranga National Park. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Its northern terminus is Gohpur on NH-15.
  2. Its southern terminus is Numaligarh on NH-715.
  3. The tunnel section beneath the Brahmaputra is 15.79 km long.
  4. The corridor is aligned directly through the core zone of Kaziranga National Park.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to major crossings over the Brahmaputra, consider the following statements: 1. The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail. 2. The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts. 3. The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987. 4. The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail.
  2. The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.
  3. The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987.
  4. The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q8. In the context of Brahmaputra crossings such as the Bogibeel Bridge, the term 'rail-cum-road bridge' precisely denotes a structure that:

  • A. carries both railway tracks and a road carriageway on the same bridge
  • B. carries only a railway line, with a narrow service road solely for maintenance access
  • C. is a road bridge whose deck can be temporarily re-laid with tracks during emergencies
  • D. carries road traffic on the deck and a dedicated pedestrian-only walkway beneath

Q9. The tunnel is expected to cut the road distance between Numaligarh and Gohpur to about 33.7 km. What is the present road distance between these two points?

  • A. 120 km
  • B. 180 km
  • C. 240 km
  • D. 300 km

Q10. The Gohpur–Numaligarh tunnel corridor is to be executed on EPC mode primarily under which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, through the National Highways Authority of India
  • B. Ministry of Railways, through Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, through the Inland Waterways Authority of India
  • D. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, through the North Eastern Council

Q11. With reference to highway development in the North-East, consider the following statements: 1. Bharatmala Pariyojana is the umbrella programme under which highway connectivity in the Northeast is being expanded. 2. Bharatmala Pariyojana subsumed the earlier Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North-East Region (SARDP-NE). 3. Bharatmala Pariyojana is implemented by the Ministry of Railways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Bharatmala Pariyojana is the umbrella programme under which highway connectivity in the Northeast is being expanded.
  2. Bharatmala Pariyojana subsumed the earlier Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North-East Region (SARDP-NE).
  3. Bharatmala Pariyojana is implemented by the Ministry of Railways.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3