NEIINFRA 2026 begins in Shillong; Gadkari announces Rs 50,000 crore infra projects for Northeast
Shillong, June 15
The North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 commenced in Shillong on Monday, with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurating the two-day summit as Chief Guest.
Organised by the Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) and co-organised by Build India Foundation. NEIINFRA is envisioned as a first-of-its-kind integrated infrastructure platform that brings together governments, ministries, policymakers, industry leaders, infrastructure developers, investors, innovators, startups and technology providers to accelerate infrastructure-led growth in Northeast India.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural programme, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a slew of infrastructure projects for the Northeast, involving a total investment of around Rs 50,000 crore.
Highlighting key initiatives, he announced the 165-km Silchar-Shillong Greenfield Highway project at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore, the 66-km Shillong-Guwahati Greenfield Corridor with an investment of Rs 8,500 crore, and the Guwahati-Shillong Brownfield-cum-Greenfield project costing Rs 18,500 crore.
He further announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore investment for projects across Meghalaya. Among the major projects is the 136-km Darugiri-Baghmara-Dalu road corridor in West and South Garo Hills, near the India-Bangladesh border, to be developed at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore, which is expected to improve connectivity for remote villages in the region.
Speaking to ANI about the North East Infrastructure Summit 2026, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, "What has truly brought the North East to centre stage is the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the last 12 years. The recognition and importance he has given to the region have awakened the North East. Today, it has emerged as a major hub for investment, attracting prominent personalities and leaders from across India and abroad."
"By 2047, we must work together to make India self-reliant under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' remains our guiding mantra," he added.
Speaking to ANI, Meghalaya Sports Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said, "This is a big opportunity for us, and I'm very thankful to our Chief Minister for his visionary leadership. I think today itself, by having this summit here, it shows our vision, our dream to take Meghalaya forward. We are very excited to host the National Games in 2027, and tomorrow we have a sports conclave where famous players and Olympians are coming to share their views on how we can support more and make this National Games a memorable one," he said.
Replying to a question on whether Shillong could host a major sports summit in the future, Shylla said, "Definitely, this is the way forward. Meghalaya is building the country's biggest dedicated football stadium meeting FIFA standards, and just to inform you as well, that just recently we have passed a policy of the 'Meghalaya Outstanding Sportsperson Direct Recruitment' where under this, whoever brings a medal in national games, asian game, south asian game, Olympic, Paralympic, they will directly be provided a government job. They don't need to appear for any recruitment. They don't need to request any minister, anybody it's bring medal and they can take a job."
Speaking to ANI, Build India Foundation CEO Vaibhav Dange said, "All eight states in the Northeast have an abundance of opportunities in terms of tourism and mineral mining. A collective thought is required to look at the Northeast's growth and development."
"A very strong infrastructure is a basic requirement of the North East. More than 1200 delegates have registered. The response has been so overwhelming. We stopped registration two days back because now we are absolutely out of capacity," he added.
The summit began with the inauguration of the exhibition, followed by a high-level CEO Round Table moderated by Vaibhav Dange, Founder, Build India Foundation. The event was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and senior representatives from the Government of India and the Northeastern states.
NEIINFRA 2026 focuses on six strategic sectors shaping the future of the region: Roads & Highways, Tourism Infrastructure, Aviation & Airports, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Industrial Infrastructure and Digital Infrastructure.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from Assam, I'm excited about the Shillong-Guwahati Greenfield Corridor. That stretch badly needs widening—traffic jams are a nightmare. But I worry about land acquisition and cost overruns. The Rs 40,000 crore for Meghalaya is mind-blowing! Also, the focus on digital infrastructure is crucial—we still struggle with basic internet in many parts. Hope the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' vision translates to real development on ground. 🇮🇳
Interesting to see big infrastructure push in Northeast. From a business perspective, the CEO roundtable and focus on six sectors (especially tourism and digital infrastructure) show serious intent. The 1200+ delegates is impressive. But I've seen such announcements in India before—implementation pace matters. The Bangladesh border road is strategically important too, not just for connectivity but for regional trade. Let's hope for timely execution.
Good to see Modi government focusing on Northeast, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Rs 50,000 crore sounds great, but we need to check actual spending. The Silchar-Shillong highway is long overdue—my relatives travel that route and it's dangerous in monsoons. Also, Meghalaya's plan for a FIFA-standard football stadium and direct jobs for medal winners is a game changer! This will inspire youth in sports. Just hope these projects aren't delayed by red tape.
I'm impressed by the holistic approach—roads, airports, waterways, tourism, and sports all covered. The Meghalaya Outstanding Sportsperson Direct Recruitment policy is brilliant! Instead of just building stadiums, they're creating career paths for athletes. But I wonder about environmental concerns—the Northeast has fragile ecosystems. Hope they balance development with forest conservation. The Darugiri-Baghmara-Dalu road near the border also has security implications worth noting.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.