NHIDCL is inviting bids for a 4-lane twin tube road cum rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra in Assam, an estimated ₹11,982.36 Cr package that closes on 30 September 2026.
The work sits in Golaghat district and is being procured on EPC mode. One of the two tubes carries railway infrastructure alongside the road, so the winning contractor takes on a river crossing, the 4-lane approaches on both banks, and rail provisioning inside the tunnel. At an estimated ₹11,982.36 Cr this is the single largest tender on our board, and the biggest the Brahmaputra corridor has seen.
What the package actually asks for
NHIDCL lists the scope as construction of the uni-directional twin tube underwater tunnel under the river, the 4-lane approaches, and provision of railway infrastructure in one of the tubes. The current round is an empanelment and expression-of-interest stage, so the documents released are the RFQ and Annexure-A rather than a priced BOQ. Bid validity is 120 days, there is a single cover, and withdrawal is allowed. A corrigendum with an updated NIT was issued on 3 September 2026, so download the latest document set before you build a submission.
Who realistically bids for this
At this value, only large EPC houses with tunnelling credentials will clear qualification on their own. For everyone else the money is in the sub-package layer that follows award: approach road earthwork on both banks, muck haulage and disposal, batching and concrete supply, precast segment yards, dewatering, and site roads. If you own machines or run a mid-size civil crew in upper Assam, the practical move is to register interest with the firms that qualify at this stage rather than to bid the main package.
Machines a river tunnel of this size pulls in
Underwater twin tube work of this length runs on tunnel boring or roadheader spreads, mucking loaders, shotcrete units and segment erectors. The approaches and both bank portals are ordinary heavy civil: excavators for cut and portal formation, dozers and motor graders for formation and subgrade, compactors on the embankment layers, tippers on a continuous muck cycle, and cranes for segment and girder handling. Expect a long mobilisation, monsoon shutdown windows on the river, and heavy demand for hired tippers and excavators through the earthwork phase.
Key facts
Tender ID
2026_NHIDC_924253_1
Reference no.
NHIDCL/Assam/Record of Discussion/2025
Issuing authority
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Corporate Office, New Delhi
Location
Golaghat, Assam (PIN 785615)
Estimated value
₹11,982.36 Cr
EMD
₹6,00,00,000 (a flat amount, not a percentage of the estimate)
Search by tender ID 2026_NHIDC_924253_1 (reference no. NHIDCL/Assam/Record of Discussion/2025) under National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
Register on the portal and keep a valid Class III digital signature certificate ready in the name of an authorised signatory.
Download the updated NIT, the RFQ and Annexure-A, then check the qualification criteria, the ₹6,00,00,000 EMD and the ₹5,00,000 tender fee against what your firm can furnish.
Submit online before 30 September 2026 and keep the payment receipts with your bid record.
Bids close on 30 September 2026, with submission opening 24 September 2026 and bid opening on 1 October 2026. A corrigendum was issued on 3 September 2026, so confirm the dates on the portal before you submit.
What is the estimated value and EMD?
The disclosed estimate is ₹11,982.36 Cr. The EMD is ₹6,00,00,000, which is a flat bid security rather than a percentage of the estimate, and the tender fee is ₹5,00,000.
Is this the main construction tender or a qualification round?
NHIDCL has listed the category as empanelment and EOI, and the released documents are the RFQ and Annexure-A. Treat it as the qualification stage of an EPC mode project, not a priced works bid.
Can a small contractor get work out of this package?
Not as the main bidder. The realistic route is subcontract work after award: approach road earthwork, muck haulage, concrete supply and site roads on both banks of the river.
Tender details are summarised for convenience and may change. Always verify the latest dates, terms and documents on the official tendering portal before bidding. DesiMachines is not responsible for changes made by the issuing authority.
Bidding with your own machines?Tenders often ask for machine papers such as the RC, insurance and invoice. Keep them in one private place on My Machine and get a reminder before insurance or service falls due. Free.
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