Guwahati, Jan 1: Nearly 85% of the proposed Barapani–Silchar expressway will pass through Meghalaya, with the remaining 15% in Assam, Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said on Thursday.
Land acquisition has already begun in Assam, while the process in Meghalaya will be carried out 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 slated 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 linking Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam. The project, estimated at Rs 22,864 crore, was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by 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 traverses Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills 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—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 poised to play a crucial role in strengthening regional trade, mobility, and economic growth across the Northeast.
