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

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.