NE gets its first high speed, access-controlled highway

Time of India

30-04-2025

Guwahati: The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the development of a four-lane greenfield highspeed corridor connecting Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam aimed at improving connectivity and enhance logistic efficiency, spur economic development and cater to tourists.
This 166.80-km-long NH-6 will be northeast's first access-controlled highway, like the Agra-Lucknow expressway and the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. The project is estimated to cost Rs 22,864 crore and the development, maintenance and management will be on a hybrid annuity mode, which is variant of public-private partnership mode.
Access controlled highways have limited and designated entry and exit points and is designed for high-speed traffic.
This greenfield high-speed corridor will improve the service level for the traffic moving from Guwahati to Silchar and will improve the connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak Valley region of Assam from mainland and Guwahati with substantially reduced travel distance and travel time. This will, in turn, contribute to the enhancement of logistics efficiency of the nation.
The corridor will improve connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya and will spur economic development, including development of industries in Meghalaya, as it passes through cement and coal production areas of Meghalaya.
According to the govt, this corridor will cater to national and international tourists coming from well-connected Guwahati Airport, Shillong Airport, 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 and Silchar, traverses 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 and NH-37, providing seamless connectivity to Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, 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.