New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on April 30 approved a Rs 22,864 crore greenfield four-lane high-speed corridor linking Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam.
According to the Cabinet decision, the 166.80-km stretch between Meghalaya and Assam will be developed under the hybrid annuity mode, with the majority of the alignment, 144.80 km, falling in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam.
The project, part of National Highway-6, will provide an alternative high-speed route to the existing NH-06 between Guwahati and Silchar. The corridor will cut through several key districts- Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, and Cachar in Assam.
Officials said the proposed road will offer better connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam’s Barak Valley, reducing travel time and distance for passenger and freight traffic.
Infrastructure and Economic Linkages
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stated that the new corridor will support regional logistics by linking industrial areas, particularly those involved in coal and cement production in Meghalaya. The corridor is also expected to ease load on the existing NH-06, which has long faced issues of congestion and slow traffic movement.
The road project will align with the broader transport infrastructure goals of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at improving multimodal logistics across India. Officials clarified that the corridor is not just intended for local connectivity but will also support movement between major Northeastern cities, including Shillong, Silchar, Imphal, Aizawl, and Agartala.
Connectivity and Tourism Potential
While the corridor’s primary objective is infrastructure strengthening, it may also improve access to tourist destinations in Meghalaya and Assam. The project’s proximity to Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar airports could enhance tourism routes, but remains a secondary aspect of the development.
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