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In boost to NE connectivity, 166-km Shillong-Silchar highway gets nod

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways , the project will traverse through the difficult terrain of the Northeast region.

Meghalaya-Assam corridor, NH-6 highway project, Hybrid Annuity Mode, Northeast connectivity, Nitin Gadkari, strategic infrastructure, 4-lane expressway, Barak Valley, Indian express

Currently, Silchar is connected by NH-27, which runs from Silchar to Porbandar in Gujarat and covers seven states from east to west.

The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved the construction of a 166.8-km-long, 4-lane, high-speed corridor along National Highway-6 from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways , the project will traverse through the difficult terrain of the Northeast region; it will have a total of 19 major bridges, 153 minor bridges, 326 culverts, 22 underpasses, 26 overpasses and 34 viaducts. It is expected to be constructed in three years.

This strategic project will be implemented in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), one of the forms of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), at a cost of `22,864 crore. Of the total length of the project, 144.8-km lies in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam.

In a post on X, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said once operational, the new alignment will reduce journey time from 8.30 hours to just 5 hours.

“The travel distance between Guwahati and Silchar will shrink to 245 km — an approximate reduction of 25% — while average vehicular speeds are expected to double. Beyond improving access within Assam’s Barak Valley, the corridor will dramatically bolster connectivity between the mainland and the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur. The project is poised to become the shortest and fastest freight route for trucks and heavy vehicles bound for Silchar and further east,” Gadkari posted.

Silchar is the entry point for connecting Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur as well as Assam’s Barak Valley region. Officials said after the completion of the project, NH-6 will become a major connectivity link for entire Northeast.

Currently, Silchar is connected by NH-27, which runs from Silchar to Porbandar in Gujarat and covers seven states from east to west.

Dheeraj Mishra

Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with the Business Bureau of The Indian Express. He plays a critical role in covering India's massive infrastructure sectors, providing in-depth reporting on the connectivity lifelines of the nation. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s journalism is focused on two of the country's most capital-intensive and public-facing ministries: Ministry of Railways: Tracking the operations, safety, and development of India's vast railway network. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: Covering policy decisions, infrastructure projects, and highway development. What sets Mishra apart is his rigorous use of the Right to Information (RTI) Actas a primary tool for news gathering. By relying on official data and government records, he ensures a high degree of accuracy and trustworthiness in his reporting. This data-driven approach has resulted in numerous impactful reports that hold public institutions accountable and bring transparency to government operations. Find all stories by Dheeraj Mishra here ... Read More

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