In a major infrastructure push for the North-East, the central government has approved the construction of a high-speed four-lane highway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam, with significant strategic and economic implications. The 166.8-km corridor, approved at a cost of Rs 22,864 crore, will link the region to an international multi-modal transport route through Myanmar, bypassing reliance on Bangladesh for maritime access.
Response to Bangladesh’s “landlocked” state label
A senior official from the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) described the project as a direct response to recent remarks by Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, who called North-East India “landlocked” and implied that Dhaka is the region’s only oceanic gateway. The official emphasized that this highway, along with the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, will provide an alternative maritime route through Myanmar, effectively reducing dependence on Bangladesh for seaborne cargo access, reports Indian Express.
First high-speed corridor in North-East
Once completed, the Shillong-Silchar highway will be the first high-speed corridor in the North-East and the first such project in hilly terrain. It will drastically reduce travel time from 8.5 hours to just 5 hours, improving connectivity for states like Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region of Assam. The road will traverse 144.8 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, and will feature advanced engineering solutions to navigate the challenging hilly terrain.
Integration with MEA’s Kaladan Project
At the other end of the corridor, the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, funded by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, links the Kolkata seaport to the Sittwe port in Myanmar. From there, cargo moves through inland waterways to Paletwa and via road to Zorinpui in Mizoram, forming a comprehensive transit route. The NHIDCL plans to extend the road from Zorinpui to Lawngtlai and onward to Aizawl, fully integrating this corridor into India’s broader Act East Policy.
Reducing India’s dependence on the “Chicken’s Neck”
The project also addresses India’s strategic vulnerability at the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow land link (also called the “Chicken’s Neck”) connecting the North-East to the rest of India. With restricted access through Bangladesh and complicated routes via Myanmar, the Shillong-Silchar highway offers a secure, direct land-sea route for cargo from Kolkata or Vizag to the North-East, through Myanmar.
Expected to be completed by 2030, the highway is not only a strategic military and logistical route but also a catalyst for economic development in the North-East. With improved road connectivity and reduced travel time, trade and tourism are expected to flourish.