The Chief Minister said the proposed high-speed rail line may require an underground or elevated route through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, with technical details and costs yet to be finalised
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has flagged major engineering challenges in extending the proposed bullet train corridor to Guwahati, particularly the need to cross the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken’s Neck.
Welcoming Guwahati’s inclusion in the high-speed rail network, Sarma said the approval was a significant development, but the route’s technical details still needed to be worked out.
He pointed out that the corridor is only around 22 km wide at its narrowest point, with some stretches measuring just 16 km. With an existing highway and railway line already passing through the area, laying a separate track for bullet trains could require specialised construction.
Sarma said the bullet train would need an independent railway line and that authorities would have to examine whether it could pass through the corridor underground or on an elevated structure. Either option could substantially increase project costs compared with a conventional ground-level route.
The Chief Minister said he would meet Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during his next Delhi visit to seek clarity on the proposed alignment and technical requirements.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vaishnaw for approving the extension to Guwahati, adding that the final route, investment requirements and construction timeline were yet to be determined.
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