The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has recognised the development, upkeep, and supervision of a 166.80 km long Greenfield access-controlled high-speed corridor on National Highway No. 06.
The corridor will join Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam, and will be attained under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The total capital cost of the project is valued at Rs. 22,864 crore.
Out of the total 166.80 km stretch, 144.80 km lies in Meghalaya and 22.00 km in Assam. The project is intended to expressively recover connectivity between Guwahati and Silchar, reducing travel time and distance, and improving contact to the north-eastern states of Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region of Assam.
This is likely to fund improved logistics competence across the region.
The planned corridor will also act as a promoter for economic growth, particularly in Meghalaya’s cement and coal sector, and endorse tourism by educating suitability to popular tourist destinations via Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar Airports.
In addition to easing the existing bottleneck on NH-06, the project brings into line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to advance the nation’s transport infrastructure.
Crossing through important districts such as Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, and Cachar district in Assam, the corridor is likely to reinforce inter-city connectivity among Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar.
It will also perfectly join in with important national highways, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, as well as several state highways like SH-07, SH-08, SH-09, and SH-38.
The corridor will join several towns and cities, including Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, and Kalain, thereby improving access to economic, social, and transport centres.
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It is likely to handle an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of 19,000 to 20,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUS) in the financial year 2025.
The monetary breakdown of the project comprises civil construction cost of Rs. 12,087 crore and a land acquisition cost of Rs. 3,503 crore.
The project is also likely to make 74 lakh man-days of direct employment and 93 lakh man-days of indirect occupation, further contributing to socio-economic expansion in Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Once finished, the Shillong–Silchar high-speed corridor will arise as a vital infrastructure project, growing area connectivity and supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission by improving infrastructure and creating income opportunities in the region.
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