Union cabinet approves Shillong–Silchar high-speed corridor worth Rs 22,864 crore

The Union Cabinet has approved the development of a high-speed corridor highway between Shillong and Silchar at an estimated cost of Rs 22,864 crore, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday. 

The project is expected to significantly enhance road connectivity in the Northeast, improve logistics efficiency, and drive regional economic development.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its nod to the proposal for the development, maintenance, and management of a 166.80 km, 4-lane greenfield access-controlled highway under the Hybrid Annuity Mode. The stretch will run from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam, with 144.80 km of the highway falling in Meghalaya and 22.00 km in Assam.

The new corridor, part of National Highway-06, aims to improve traffic flow between Guwahati and Silchar and strengthen connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley. The project is expected to reduce travel distance and time substantially, thus improving the overall logistics network and infrastructure in the region.

In addition to enhancing connectivity, the project will support economic development in Meghalaya by boosting local industries, especially in cement and coal production zones. It is also poised to benefit the tourism sector by connecting key destinations in the Northeast via Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar airports.

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The high-speed corridor will traverse key districts including Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, and the Cachar district in Assam. It will also help decongest the existing NH-06, which currently bears heavy traffic between these major urban centres.

The highway’s alignment will integrate with major national transport corridors such as NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, ensuring seamless connectivity to cities like Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Khliehriat, Ratachera, and Kalain.

Once completed, the Shillong–Silchar high-speed corridor is expected to play a pivotal 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.