NEW DELHI, NOV 1 (AGENCIES): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has welcomed the extension of the Northern bullet train corridor to Guwahati, saying it could bring the national capital within eight hours of the Northeast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the expansion following Sarma’s request to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to extend the Delhi-Siliguri route to Guwahati. Vaishnaw announced the approval on October 31.
The corridor will connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna and Siliguri before reaching Guwahati.
The project was initially planned around Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri sections, among seven high-speed rail corridors announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Vaishnaw shared journey times, including 59 minutes between Delhi and Agra, 1 hour 45 minutes to Kanpur, 2 hours 12 minutes to Lucknow and 3 hours 35 minutes to Varanasi. Varanasi-Patna is expected to take one hour, while Varanasi-Siliguri was estimated at 2 hours 55 minutes.
Sarma said he had written to Vaishnaw and met him in July to seek the extension. Thanking the Prime Minister and Railway Minister, he described the decision as significant for India.
He said faster connectivity could help Assam attract industries, generate employment, facilitate investment and improve access to markets.
The extension beyond Siliguri would bring Assam into the high-speed rail network. However, detailed routes and journey times for Guwahati are yet to be announced.
Monday, November 2, 2026