The Centre has announced plans for a 630-km high-speed highway corridor connecting Siliguri in West Bengal with Guwahati in Assam and Shillong in Meghalaya. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 61,500 crore and will combine new greenfield stretches with upgrades to existing highways.
The corridor is expected to improve road connectivity across the Northeast and reduce travel time between some of the region’s key cities. The improved connectivity is expected to support new residential pockets, commercial activity and tourism-led development along the corridor.
3 highway stretches to improve connectivity in Northeast
The proposed highway corridor will cover three major stretches. The 400-km Siliguri-Guwahati corridor is the largest part of the project with an estimated cost of Rs 30,000 crore. The project is expected to improve connectivity between West Bengal and the northeastern states through the Siliguri Corridor.
The Jorabat-Barapani stretch will cover 66 km and provide a new link between Guwahati and Shillong. It will cut the existing distance from around 100 km to 66 km. The journey, which currently takes about 2.5 hours, is expected to take around an hour once the new route is operational.
The third stretch will connect Shillong and Silchar through a 165-km highway. The new road will reduce the distance from around 230 km to 165 km and is expected to cut travel time from about 8 hours to 4 hours. The project will also improve connectivity towards Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.
Siliguri to emerge as a bigger logistics and commercial hub
Siliguri is likely to remain one of the important markets to watch as this road network expands. The city already acts as a gateway to North Bengal, Sikkim and the Northeast. Better road connectivity could strengthen its role in logistics, trade and regional movement.
Property prices in the city also show an active market. According to Square Yards, the average asking price in Siliguri stood at around Rs 4,050 psf in June 2026. Villa prices are slightly higher at around Rs 5,200 psf. Several nearby localities have recorded stronger price movement. Sevoke Road had an average asking price of around Rs 4,600 psf, while Hakim Para was at about Rs 4,150 psf.
The highway development may not affect the entire city in the same way. Locations with better access to major roads, junctions and emerging commercial areas could see stronger demand over time.
Guwahati to see development beyond established markets
Guwahati is another major market that could benefit from the expanding road network. The city is already the main commercial center for much of the Northeast. Better links towards Shillong, Silchar and other parts of the region could widen its economic catchment.
Guwahati’s residential market is already responding to broader infrastructure development. According to Square Yards, the average property rate in Guwahati is around Rs 5,400 psf, with Dharapur, Garchuk and Khanapara among the stronger appreciation locations.
The new highway links could make peripheral locations more attractive as connectivity improves. This could support residential projects as well as retail, warehousing and other commercial developments.
Better connectivity to create new property corridors
The project’s impact is likely to be in areas that gain better access to the new highways. New roads can reduce travel time between city centers and peripheral locations. This can make areas outside established markets more practical for housing and commercial development.
Logistics could be another important driver. The Siliguri-Guwahati connection can support the movement of goods between North Bengal and the Northeast. This could increase demand for warehouses, distribution centers, roadside commercial spaces and other logistics-related properties.
Tourism could also support property demand in parts of Meghalaya. Better access to destinations across the state can benefit hotels, resorts, homestays and other hospitality businesses. The Meghalaya government has also highlighted the potential for improved road connectivity to support tourism and trade in the state.
The impact on property prices, however, is unlikely to be immediate or uniform. Demand will depend on construction progress, access points and the development of supporting facilities.
New highway projects to strengthen regional growth
The proposed corridor is part of a broader road-connectivity push across the Northeast. In Assam alone, around 265 road projects covering nearly 4,700 km are currently under development, with an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore. Another 31 projects covering around 1,470 km are also proposed at an estimated cost of about Rs 92,000 crore.
The Center has also approved a 135.87-km Guwahati-Tezpur corridor, expected to improve access to economic and logistics centers across Assam and towards Arunachal Pradesh. Together, these projects could gradually create a wider road network around the Northeast’s main urban and economic centers.
For the property market, this could mean a gradual shift towards new growth locations. Siliguri and Guwahati already have established real estate markets. Better connectivity could help extend development into surrounding areas and strengthen demand for residential, commercial, logistics and hospitality properties.
