The Union Cabinet has given the green light to the development of a high-speed corridor highway between Shillong and Silchar, with an estimated cost of Rs 22,864 crore. This announcement was made by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday.
The project is set to bring about a significant improvement in road connectivity in the Northeast region, enhancing logistics efficiency and driving regional economic development. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for the construction, maintenance, and management of a 166.80 km, 4-lane greenfield access-controlled highway under the Hybrid Annuity Mode.
The corridor will stretch from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam, with the majority of the highway falling in Meghalaya. This new corridor, which is part of National Highway-06, aims to streamline traffic flow between Guwahati and Silchar while improving connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley.
The project is expected to reduce travel distance and time significantly, thereby enhancing the overall logistics network and infrastructure in the region. Additionally, it will support economic development in Meghalaya by boosting local industries, particularly in cement and coal production zones.
The high-speed corridor will pass through key districts in Meghalaya and Assam, including Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, and Cachar. By integrating with major national transport corridors, such as NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, the highway will ensure seamless connectivity to important cities in the region.
Once completed, the Shillong–Silchar high-speed corridor is expected to play a vital role in boosting regional growth, inter-city mobility, and trade. The project aligns with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, promising both employment generation and socio-economic upliftment in Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
