Guwahati: Nearly 85% of land for the proposed Barapani–Silchar expressway will be in Meghalaya, with Assam accounting for the remaining 15%, says Chief Secretary Ravi Kota.
Land acquisition has started in Assam, while in Meghalaya it will proceed under the Hill Council regulations.
The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has completed project planning, and environmental clearance is expected within four to five weeks.
Officials are also preparing to issue tenders before February 28. Construction of the expressway is expected to be completed within 48 months from the start date.
The Union Cabinet has already approved the development of the 166.80-km, four-lane, access-controlled greenfield highway, which will connect Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 22,864 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the project, which was announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The highway will cover 144.80 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam and will be built under the Hybrid Annuity Mode.
It forms part of National Highway-06 and is expected to reduce travel time and distance between Guwahati and Silchar, while also improving connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley.
The route passes through Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills districts in Meghalaya, as well as Cachar district in Assam, and aims to relieve congestion on the existing NH-06, which currently handles heavy inter-city traffic.
Once completed, the corridor will link with major national highways including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, enhancing access to urban and industrial hubs like Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar.
The project is also expected to benefit tourism and local industries, especially in Meghalaya’s cement and coal regions.
Officials say the Shillong–Silchar expressway will play a key role in boosting regional trade, mobility, and economic growth, aligning with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the government’s broader infrastructure-driven development agenda in the Northeast.