Gadkari announces Rs 39,800 crore highway projects for Meghalaya Infrastructure summit
Shillong, June 15
Meghalaya is set to witness a major infrastructure transformation with National Highway projects worth nearly Rs 39,800 crore, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced while inaugurating the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Shillong on Monday.
Addressing the inaugural session, attended by Chief Ministers, senior officials and industry leaders from across the Northeast, Gadkari said the Centre is committed to bringing road infrastructure in the region on par with that of the most developed states of the country.
"We will bring the road infrastructure of the Northeast equivalent to the progressive, prosperous and developed states of India; this is our resolve, and we will fulfil it," the Union Minister said.
The summit, hosted by the Meghalaya government in partnership with the Federation of Industry and Commerce of North East Region (FINER) and the Build India Foundation, brought together more than 1,500 delegates, representatives of eight Northeastern states and officials from eight Union Ministries.
Among the key projects announced was the 165‑km four‑lane Greenfield Shillong-Silchar Corridor, estimated at Rs 23,000 crore. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Shillong and Silchar by nearly 50 per cent while improving connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.
Gadkari also highlighted the proposed 66‑km four‑lane Greenfield Jorabat-Barapani Corridor, worth Rs 8,500 crore, which will reduce travel time between Guwahati and Shillong from around two‑and‑a‑half hours to nearly one hour.
Another major project is the 136‑km Darugiri-Baghmara-Dalu stretch of National Highway‑217, estimated at Rs 4,000 crore, aimed at improving connectivity in remote areas of the Garo Hills along the Bangladesh border.
Additional infrastructure initiatives include four‑laning of the Pomlum-Umtyngar section on the Shillong-Dawki corridor, the Tura-Dalu road improvement project, the Tura and Pynursla bypasses, and works on NH‑127B linked to the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge.
The Union Minister said improved highways would boost tourism, facilitate cross‑border trade through Dawki and Dalu, create employment opportunities and enhance market access for farmers and entrepreneurs across Meghalaya.
Congratulating Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for organising the summit, Gadkari said the event would inspire investors and help unlock the vast economic potential of the Northeast, which is increasingly emerging as India's gateway to Southeast Asia.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive investment! As someone who travels to the Northeast frequently, I can say roads are in desperate need of upgrade. The Jorabat-Barapani corridor reducing Guwahati-Shillong travel to one hour? Yes please! Just hope the hilly terrain challenges are handled well—construction in these areas needs specialised expertise.
Rs 39,800 crore is huge, but let's also think about maintaining these roads once built. Many NH projects in the Northeast deteriorate quickly due to heavy rains and landslides. Maintenance contracts should be as robust as construction. Also, the cross-border trade aspect is promising—Dawki and Dalu can become major trade hubs with Bangladesh if infrastructure supports it.
Great to see focus on Garo Hills with the Darugiri-Baghmara-Dalu stretch. These border areas have been neglected for decades. Improved connectivity will help local farmers and businesses. But I'm a bit sceptical about the timeline—previous projects in Meghalaya have seen delays due to environmental clearances and coordination issues. Hope this time is different.
These projects sound fantastic for tourism and trade. The Northeast has such beautiful destinations—Cherrapunji, Shillong, Tawang—but bad roads discourage travellers. Once connectivity improves, the region could see a tourism boom similar to Himachal or Uttarakhand. Also good to see multi-billion rupee investment in a less developed state.
No doubt this will boost the economy, but I hope the environmental impact is carefully studied. Meghalaya's hills and forests are ecologically sensitive. Greenfield projects through these areas could
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