The government has approved the construction of a high-speed four-lane highway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam. The 166.8-km-long project has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 22,864 crore. It aims to boost infrastructure in the North-East. The highway will connect the region to an international multi-modal transport corridor through Myanmar. This will reduce the region’s dependence on Bangladesh for maritime access.

A senior official from the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said the project responds directly to recent remarks made by Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus. Yunus described the North-East as “landlocked” and suggested that Bangladesh is the region’s only maritime gateway. The official said the new highway, along with the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, will create an alternative maritime route through Myanmar. This will reduce India’s reliance on Bangladesh for transporting cargo by sea, the Indian Express reported.

After completion, the Shillong-Silchar highway will become the first high-speed corridor in the North-East and the first of its kind in a hilly region. The highway will reduce travel time from 8.5 hours to 5 hours. It will improve connectivity for states like Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region of Assam. The project includes 144.8 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam. Engineers will use advanced methods to tackle the difficult hilly terrain.

The highway will link with the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, which is funded by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. This project connects Kolkata port to Myanmar’s Sittwe port. From there, cargo moves through inland waterways to Paletwa and then by road to Zorinpui in Mizoram. This creates a full transit route. NHIDCL plans to extend the road from Zorinpui to Lawngtlai and then to Aizawl. This will help integrate the highway with India’s Act East Policy.

The highway also addresses India’s strategic concern at the Siliguri Corridor, known as the “Chicken’s Neck.” This narrow land link connects the North-East with the rest of India. Since access through Bangladesh remains limited and routes via Myanmar are difficult, the Shillong-Silchar highway will provide a secure and direct land-sea corridor. It will allow cargo from Kolkata or Vizag to reach the North-East through Myanmar more reliably.

The government expects to complete the project by 2030. The highway will serve as a strategic military and logistical corridor. It will also promote economic development in the North-East. With better road connectivity and reduced travel time, trade and tourism are expected to grow in the region.