The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a greenfield highway to improve connectivity on the Guwahati-Shillong-Silchar route. The govt approved the proposal for the Development, Maintenance and Management of a 4-lane Greenfield access-controlled 166.80 km of National Highway No. 06 from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam.
The access-controlled greenfield High-Speed Corridor on Hybrid Annuity Mode will have a total capital cost of ₹22,864 Crore. The length of the route is 166.80 km, of which 144.80 km lies in Meghalaya, and the rest 22 km lies in Assam.
The proposed Greenfield high-speed corridor will improve the service level for the traffic moving from Guwahati to Silchar, said a statement issued by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The development of this corridor will improve the connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak Valley region of Assam from the mainland and Guwahati with substantially reduced travel distance and travel time. This will, in turn, contribute to the enhancement of the logistics efficiency of the nation.
The corridor will improve connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya and will spur economic development, including the development of industries in Meghalaya, as it passes through the cement and coal production areas of Meghalaya. This corridor will cater to the national and international tourists coming from well-connected Guwahati Airport, Shillong Airport, and Silchar Airport (via existing NH-06) connecting Guwahati to Silchar. This would connect scenic places of tourist attraction in the North-East and promote tourism.
This critical infrastructure project will improve inter-city connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong & Silchar, traversing through Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya and Cachar district in Assam, reduce congestion on existing NH-06 and enhance transport infrastructure development in line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The project alignment integrates with major transport corridors, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, NH-37, providing seamless connectivity to Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, and Kalain.
The current Guwahati–Silchar route often sees massive traffic stagnation, and the road is prone to landslides in many places. The new 4-lane road is expected to resolve these issues. Apart from Guwahati, Shillong and Silchar, other major towns to be connected by the road are Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, and Kalain.
Upon completion, the Shillong-Silchar Corridor will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, improving connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Imphal, Aizawl and Agartala. The project aligns with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, enhancing infrastructure while generating employment and fostering socio-economic development in Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
