By Reacting to the decision on social media on Sunday, Sarma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He also took a political swipe at the Opposition with the remark, “Isiliye, Modi kahin nahi jayega!” (That is why Modi isn’t going anywhere!).
Sarma Says His Request Led to Guwahati Extension
The Chief Minister said the high-speed rail corridor was initially planned to end at Siliguri. He had urged the Centre to extend it to Guwahati, raising the issue through a written request and a meeting with Vaishnaw in July.
Sarma described the approval as an important development for the Northeast and said the extension would bring Guwahati closer to major cities through faster rail connectivity.
“Guwahati–Delhi in under 8 hours? Yes! The extension of the Northern bullet train corridor to Guwahati is a pivotal moment for East India,” he said.
He added that the proposed connection would be particularly valuable as Assam prepares to attract new high-tech industries. Faster and more affordable connectivity with Delhi and other state capitals, he said, could create opportunities for businesses, investment and employment.
Chief Minister Had Earlier Written to Railway Minister
In a letter dated June 7, Sarma had welcomed the announcement of the Delhi–Siliguri High-Speed Rail Corridor but expressed concern over Guwahati being left out of the proposed route.
The planned corridor is designed to connect Delhi with major cities, including Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri. In his letter, Sarma described Guwahati as the gateway to the Northeast and the region’s largest economic and transportation hub.
He argued that extending the project to Guwahati would strengthen the Northeast’s integration with India’s broader economic development.
Reflecting on the approval, Sarma said a bullet train connection to Assam had once seemed like an unrealistic ambition. What people had barely dared to imagine, he said, was now moving towards reality.
Centre Approves Northern High-Speed Rail Corridor
The announcement follows Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the Northern Corridor of the proposed bullet train network.
The route is planned to begin in Delhi and connect Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow and Ayodhya before extending through Varanasi and Patna to Guwahati.
Vaishnaw also outlined the proposed travel times between Delhi and several destinations. According to his announcement, the journey would take around 59 minutes to Agra, one hour and 45 minutes to Kanpur, two hours and 12 minutes to Lucknow, and three hours and 33 minutes to Varanasi. The proposed travel time to Prayagraj was stated as 33 minutes.
Addressing concerns about affordability, the Railway Minister said bullet train fares would be economical and significantly lower than airfares. He also rejected criticism that the service would benefit only wealthy passengers.
The proposed extension to Guwahati marks an important development in the Northeast’s high-speed connectivity plans. Its eventual impact will depend on the project’s detailed planning, construction and completion.
