Meghalaya received a major infrastructure boost on Monday as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced highway and connectivity projects worth nearly ₹90,000 crore, including a 165-km Silchar-Shillong Greenfield alignment worth ₹23,000 crore, a 66-km Shillong-Guwahati Greenfield corridor worth ₹8,500 crore, and a Guwahati-Shillong Brownfield and Greenfield project with a DPR value of ₹18,500 crore.
Addressing the North East Infrastructure Summit in New Shillong, Gadkari said a total of ₹50,000 crore worth of projects had been announced and an additional ₹40,000 crore would be invested in other projects across Meghalaya. He stressed that projects would commence only after land acquisition was completed and made it clear that projects without land acquisition, forest clearance and at least 90% statutory clearances would not be approved.Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 in New Shillong in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Gadkari said the Centre was ready to sanction and fund major projects but would not approve works without adequate land acquisition, forest clearance and other mandatory approvals.
Detailing the proposed highway network, Gadkari said, “Silchar to Shillong Greenfield alignment 165 km worth Rs 23, 000 crores , then Shillong to Guwahati that too Greenfield 66 km worth Rs8500 crore. Then again Guwahati to Shillong which brown field and green field are DPR for it is made Rs 6500 crore, total Rs 50,000 crore projects I am announcing. If you complete the land acquisition is done then the project will start. For the Silchar Shillong project land acquisition is going on and if the remaining two projects land acquisition is done, that will be great.” He further announced, “At the same time, Rs 40,000 crore I am announcing for other projects in Meghalaya. Rs crore for Goeragre – Baghmara – Dalu 136 km we have sent it for cabinet approval, I announced of approving the project, four lane Greenfield Shillong to Silchar 165 km, this Rs 23,000 crore project, once the land acquisition is done we will immediately start the project. Jorabat to Umiam which is 66 km, Rs 8500 crore, for which DPR is at the final stage and if the land acquisition is completed we are aiming to start the project this year itself. Guwahati Jorabat upto Umiam, the length will reduce from 100 km to 66 km it will be a continued green field project from Guwahati Shillong Silchar reducing distance from Guwahati to Silchar from 330 km to 230 km. Siliguri, Guwahati, Shillong Silchar this high speed connectivity will help in boosting tourism. Tourism will increase three fold. Pomlum to Umtynger, part of Shillong Dawki Rs 330 crore project for 9 km, DPR is done, four lanning of Pomlum Umtynger congestion will be reduced.”
Reiterating his emphasis on project readiness, Gadkari said, “Projects without land acquisition will not be approved. Will not accepted projects without 90 percent clearance. Forest clearance, land acquisition. Get the projects cleared we are agreeing to approve whatever projects you say.” He noted that the North-East’s road network had increased from 10,000 km in 2014 to 16,290 km in 2026 and highlighted that Meghalaya currently has 92 National Highway projects covering 1,600 km worth ₹52,400 crore. Stressing the need for transparent, time-bound and result-oriented governance, he said, “I like people who can get the things done, we have selected the people because we like people who can get the things done. Financial auditing is important but performance auditing is more important. We need administrative system transparent, time bound, result oriented, and corruption free.” He also called for technology-driven growth, increased exports and the use of bamboo and other proven technologies to transform the strengths of the North-East into economic opportunities.
