Agartala: The Government of India has approved the construction of a 166.8-kilometre greenfield highway from Meghalaya to Assam, designed to ease travel, boost logistics, and improve access to key Northeastern states including Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur.
The project was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It involves the development, maintenance, and management of a new four-lane access-controlled corridor between Mawlyngkhung near Shillong and Panchgram near Silchar. The highway will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with a total capital outlay of Rs 22,864 crore, including Rs 12,087 crore for civil construction and Rs 3,503 crore for land acquisition.
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Welcoming the move, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha wrote on social media, “A major boost for Tripura & the Northeast! Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi Ji and the efforts of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Ji, the 166.8 km Greenfield Corridor will cut travel time, enhance trade, and improve connectivity across Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram & Manipur. A true game-changer under PM Gati Shakti! North East Rising.”
Stretching across 144.8 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, the corridor is expected to drastically reduce travel time between major Northeast cities such as Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar. It will also improve connectivity to the Barak Valley and far-flung states like Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, thereby enhancing trade and mobility across the region.
The alignment will integrate with key national and state highways, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37. It will also connect to Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar airports, facilitating smoother travel for both domestic and international tourists.
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Officials said the project is expected to generate 74 lakh man-days of direct employment and 93 lakh man-days of indirect employment during construction. It also aligns with the government’s PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aimed at developing multimodal infrastructure across the country.
Besides improving connectivity, the new expressway is expected to spur economic development in Meghalaya, especially in cement and coal-producing areas, while also boosting tourism by improving access to scenic destinations in the hills.