₹61,500-CRORE HIGHWAY VISION PUTS SILIGURI AT THE HEART OF NORTHEAST INDIA’S CONNECTIVITY PUSH

October 2, 2026

The Centre has announced a major highway development initiative worth ₹61,500 crore to strengthen road connectivity between north Bengal and the Northeast, placing the strategically important Siliguri Corridor at the centre of a proposed high-speed transport network. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari outlined plans for a 630-kilometre highway corridor linking Siliguri in West Bengal with Guwahati in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya, alongside a separate expressway project connecting Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh with Siliguri.

The proposed corridor will combine newly constructed greenfield highway stretches with the upgrading of existing roads. Its first and largest section, connecting Siliguri with Guwahati over approximately 400 kilometres, is estimated to cost ₹30,000 crore. The alignment for this stretch is undergoing approval, while the wider initiative is intended to improve transport links between West Bengal and the northeastern states.

Another section will connect Jorabat, near Guwahati, with Barapani in Meghalaya. The proposed greenfield route is expected to reduce the distance from around 100 kilometres to 66 kilometres and cut travel time from approximately two-and-a-half hours to one hour. A further 165-kilometre greenfield highway between Shillong and Silchar is also planned, potentially reducing the existing journey from around eight hours to four.

The Centre is also pursuing an expressway link between Gorakhpur and Siliguri, which would create a faster road connection between Uttar Pradesh and the Northeast through north Bengal. Together, the proposed corridors are intended to facilitate the movement of passengers and freight, strengthen regional trade and logistics, and improve access to markets and economic centres.

The Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch of land connecting mainland India with its northeastern states, holds major strategic and logistical significance. Its road network is essential for civilian transport, commercial supply chains and access to the wider region. The proposed projects are expected to provide additional connectivity and reduce pressure on existing routes, although their implementation will depend on planning, approvals, land-related requirements and construction progress.

The announcement forms part of a broader infrastructure expansion across the Northeast. Gadkari has also outlined extensive highway development plans in Assam, including projects covering thousands of kilometres. While the proposed corridors promise significant changes to regional mobility, their eventual impact will depend on timely execution and the integration of new roads with existing transport infrastructure.