‘Delhi to Guwahati in under 8 hours’: Assam CM hails nod to extend high-speed rail corridor

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated the government's decision to extend the high-speed rail corridor from Delhi to Guwahati, calling it a "pivotal moment" for eastern India. Under the new plan, the journey from Delhi to Guwahati is expected to take less than eight hours, significantly cutting travel time. Sarma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the extension.

He noted that while the original route ended at Siliguri in West Bengal, the extension to Guwahati will create new economic opportunities for the region. Sarma highlighted that Assam is gearing up for a surge in high-tech industries, and the fast, affordable connectivity to Delhi and other state capitals will open up significant prospects for businesses and employment.

He added, "What we scarcely dared to dream is becoming reality." Sarma had previously urged the Centre in June to consider extending the Delhi-Siliguri High-Speed Rail Corridor to Guwahati, emphasizing that it would not only connect the entire Northeast to India's bullet train network but would also serve as a catalyst for economic growth, tourism, trade, and investment in the region.