The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a 166.8 km, four-lane greenfield national highway (NH) that would connect Panchgram, Assam, and Mawlyngkhung, Meghalaya. The project worth Rs 228.64 billion will be constructed and maintained on the hybrid annuity model (HAM).
The highway’s design aims to raise the standard of service for traffic travelling between Silchar and Guwahati. The proposed highway would improve connection from mainland India and Guwahati to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region of Assam by cutting down on travel time and distance. The corridor will serve both domestic and foreign visitors arriving at the airports of Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar (linked by the current NH-06), offering easy access to the Northeast’s hotspots and fostering regional tourism.
The greenfield alignment, which spans the districts of Cachar in Assam and Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, will greatly enhance inter-city connection between important urban areas like Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar. In keeping with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, it is also anticipated to improve the overall transportation infrastructure by decluttering the current NH-06.