Meghalaya is on the brink of a significant infrastructure overhaul as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari revealed National Highway projects valued at almost Rs 39,800 crore during the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (NEIINFRA) 2026 in Shillong. Gadkari, addressing the summit’s inaugural session attended by Chief Ministers, officials, and industry leaders from the Northeast, emphasized the government’s commitment to elevating the region’s road infrastructure to match that of the most developed states in India.
One of the highlighted projects is the 165-km four-lane Greenfield Shillong-Silchar Corridor, costing around Rs 23,000 crore, expected to significantly reduce travel time between Shillong and Silchar by almost 50%, while enhancing connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur. Additionally, the proposed 66-km four-lane Greenfield Jorabat-Barapani Corridor, valued at Rs 8,500 crore, aims to cut down travel time between Guwahati and Shillong from approximately two-and-a-half hours to nearly one hour.
Another crucial initiative is the 136-km Darugiri-Baghmara-Dalu stretch of National Highway-217, estimated at Rs 4,000 crore, focusing on enhancing connectivity in remote areas of the Garo Hills along the Bangladesh border. Various other infrastructure projects include the four-laning of the Pomlum-Umtyngar section on the Shillong-Dawki corridor, the Tura-Dalu road improvement project, Tura and Pynursla bypasses, and developments on NH-127B linked to the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge.
Gadkari emphasized that the upgraded highways would not only boost tourism but also facilitate cross-border trade through Dawki and Dalu, generate employment opportunities, and improve market access for farmers and entrepreneurs across Meghalaya. He commended Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for organizing the summit, expressing confidence that the event would attract investors and unlock the vast economic potential of the Northeast, positioning it as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia.
