Assam CM welcomes extension of high-speed rail corridor to Guwahati
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the extension will reduce travel time between Delhi and Guwahati to less than eight hours.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday welcomed the central government's decision to extend the proposed northern high-speed rail corridor to Guwahati. According to The Indian Express, Sarma described the approval as a pivotal moment for eastern India.
The Chief Minister stated that the operational corridor will allow travel between the national capital and Guwahati in under eight hours. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the approval in a post on X.
Sarma noted that the corridor was previously intended to end in Siliguri, West Bengal. He said the extension to Guwahati will create economic opportunities and support high-tech industries in Assam by providing fast connectivity.
The Chief Minister mentioned that a bullet train to Assam previously seemed unlikely but is now becoming a reality. He said the project would benefit businesses and livelihoods in the region.
The proposed rail route is expected to connect Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, and Siliguri before reaching Guwahati. In June, Sarma had written to the Centre requesting the extension to include the Northeast's largest transportation hub.