Shillong-Silchar 4-Lane Corridor: Centre announces Rs 22,864 crore highway project to boost Northeast connectivity

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that the Cabinet has approved a major highway project worth Rs 22,864 crore aimed at enhancing connectivity between Meghalaya and Assam. The project will play a crucial role in strengthening the transport link across the Northeast region.

The 166.8-kilometre highway will connect Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam through a new 4-lane, high-speed corridor. This route—part of National Highway 6 (NH-6)—is expected to become a critical connectivity backbone for the entire Northeast.

Silchar, situated in Assam’s Barak Valley, acts as the gateway to Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur. The Guwahati-Shillong-Silchar stretch is already the shortest and most preferred route for movement of goods and people across the region.

The project includes the construction of 19 major bridges, 153 minor bridges, 326 culverts, 22 underpasses, 26 overpasses, and 34 viaducts (totalling 9 km). The highway will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), with a three-year construction period followed by a 15-year operational period under concession.

Officials said the project is not just about faster movement—it’s a strategic push for economic growth and integration in the Northeast, in line with the government’s Act East policy.

This is a breaking story, more details are awaited…