SHILLONG, JUN 15: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday announced major upcoming National Highway projects worth nearly ₹39,800 crore covering approximately 450 kilometres across Meghalaya, which are expected to transform the State’s connectivity landscape and accelerate economic growth.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (NEIINFRA 2026) at the Lariti Performing Arts Centre, Shillong.
The flagship 4-Lane Greenfield Shillong–Silchar Corridor, estimated at ₹23,000 crore, will be developed over approximately 165 kilometres and is expected to emerge as one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the North East.
The corridor will reduce travel time between Shillong and Silchar by nearly 50 per cent and provide faster connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur through Silchar.
By linking key economic centres, tourism destinations and logistics hubs, the project is expected to catalyse industrial development, trade, tourism and investment across the region.
The proposed 4-Lane Greenfield Jorabat–Barapani Corridor, estimated at ₹8,500 crore and spanning approximately 66 kilometres, will provide high-speed connectivity between Guwahati and Shillong. The project is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from about 2.5 hours to nearly one hour and will form part of a future high-speed Siliguri–Guwahati–Shillong–Silchar Economic Corridor.
Gadkari also highlighted the strategic importance of the proposed Darugiri–Baghmara–Dalu Section of NH-217, estimated at ₹4,000 crore over approximately 136 kilometres. The project will significantly improve connectivity in the Garo Hills region and border areas adjoining Bangladesh, providing better access to markets, healthcare, education and economic opportunities for local communities.
He further noted that projects such as the Pomlum–Umtyngar Section of the Shillong–Dawki Corridor, improvement of the Tura–Dalu Route, the Tura Bypass Project, the Pynursla Bypass Project and NH-127B Connectivity Projects linked to the Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge will further strengthen Meghalaya’s transport infrastructure and improve last-mile connectivity.
The two-day summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, infrastructure developers and government representatives to deliberate on opportunities and challenges relating to infrastructure development, logistics, tourism, digital connectivity, industrial growth and investment in the North Eastern Region. The event served as a platform for fostering collaboration between governments and industry stakeholders to accelerate sustainable infrastructure development and unlock the region’s economic potential.
The inaugural session of NEIINFRA 2026 was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, senior officials of the Central and State Governments, industry representatives and delegates from across the country.
Gadkari expressed confidence that the ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects would transform Meghalaya’s connectivity landscape, accelerate economic growth, create employment opportunities and contribute significantly to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Addressing the gathering, Conrad K. Sangma, said that the region has moved past decades of instability into an era of widespread peace and political stability, echoing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision that this is the right time for the Northeast.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s rapid economic transformation, he noted that the State now ranks third nationwide in GDP growth over the last five years, driven by a doubled state budget, a six-fold increase in capital expenditure, and a historic ₹50,000 crore investment in road infrastructure. Outlining the vision of the summit, he explained that it aims to unite all stakeholders to collectively identify and transform challenges into dynamic opportunities.
Emphasizing that this momentum must be a collaborative endeavour, he concluded, “I hope that this summit will not just be a program, but this will be a beginning of a very long journey and a partnership that will ensure that we will take both the private sector, the government, and most importantly, the public to new heights in the days to come.”
In his address, Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland highlighted that the Northeast is entering a dynamic phase of transformation driven by the Act East Policy. Expressing his gratitude to Meghalaya for hosting the crucial infrastructure summit, he noted that such collaborative platforms are essential for bringing together the government, investors, and stakeholders to translate shared developmental visions into reality.
