Guwahati, Jan 2: Nearly 85 per cent of the proposed Barapani–Silchar expressway will pass through Meghalaya, while the remaining 15 per cent will lie in Assam, Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said on Thursday.
Land acquisition has already commenced in Assam, and the process in Meghalaya will be undertaken in accordance with Hill Council regulations. Project planning has been completed by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development.
Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and environmental clearance is expected within the next four to five weeks, officials said.
Authorities are preparing to float tenders before February 28, with construction scheduled to be completed within 48 months from the start date.
The Union Cabinet has approved the 166.80-km, four-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway connecting Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 22,864 crore, was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Of the total length, 144.80 km will be in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam. The highway will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode and will form part of National Highway-06 (NH-06).
Officials said the corridor will significantly reduce travel time and distance between Guwahati and Silchar, while improving connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley.
The route will pass through Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts in Meghalaya, and Cachar district in Assam, and is expected to ease congestion on the existing NH-06.
Once operational, the expressway will connect with major national highways including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206 and NH-37, enhancing access to key urban and industrial centres such as Guwahati, Shillong and Silchar.
The project is also expected to boost tourism and local industries, particularly in Meghalaya’s cement and coal belts.
Officials said the Shillong–Silchar expressway aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening regional trade, mobility and economic growth across the Northeast.
