India to Build 630-Km Highway Linking West Bengal to North East

India is set to embark on a massive infrastructure project to build a 630-km highway linking Siliguri in West Bengal with Guwahati in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya. The project, estimated to cost Rs 61,500 crore, aims to improve connectivity between West Bengal and the North East, as well as reduce travel time between the regions.

According to Nitin Gadkari, India's Road Transport Minister, the highway will be a "lifeline" for the North East, reducing travel time from eight hours to just four hours. The first part of the corridor will cover the 400-km stretch between Siliguri and Guwahati, with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore.

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The project is part of a larger initiative to improve connectivity between the North East and Uttar Pradesh. The road transport ministry has also initiated an expressway connectivity project between Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and Siliguri.

Background Context

The North Eastern Region has seen significant investment in infrastructure development in recent years. With a cumulative allocation of Rs 6.11 lakh crore spent on development between 2014-15 and 2024-25.

Several infrastructure projects have been completed across different sectors through various schemes of the Union government. This includes the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). This has led to the construction of 46,296 km of rural roads across the NER.

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Railway investment in the North Eastern Region has also risen substantially in recent years. With the annual budget allocation for the railway sector increasing from Rs. 2,122 crore during the 2009-14 period to Rs.

10,440 crore in FY 2025-26.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also introduced the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN). Which aims to develop regional air connectivity routes based on market forces.