PM Modi approves Delhi-Guwahati bullet train corridor extension to Assam
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision, stating the link could connect Guwahati to Delhi in under eight hours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the proposed Northern bullet train corridor to Guwahati, according to reports by The Economic Times and ANI. The high-speed rail route, which was originally planned to end at Siliguri in West Bengal, will now extend further into Assam.
The proposed route will connect Delhi to Guwahati via Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, and Siliguri. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval on October 31, noting that the corridor would provide faster access to major urban centres.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the extension is a pivotal moment for East India. Sarma stated he had requested the inclusion of Guwahati in a letter to Vaishnaw and during a meeting in July.
Sarma noted that the high-speed connectivity could make the Guwahati-Delhi journey possible in under eight hours. He added that the project would support Assam's plans for high-tech industrial development by creating opportunities for businesses and investment.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw shared indicative journey times, including 59 minutes between Delhi and Agra and 1 hour 45 minutes between Delhi and Kanpur. The Delhi-Varanasi journey is projected to take approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes.