Guwahati (Assam) [India]: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of a major infrastructure project — a four-lane greenfield access-controlled expressway from Shillong to Silchar — describing it as a transformative step for connectivity in the Northeast.
Post #AdvantageAssam2, the huge investment and infrastructure push to transform Assam continues!
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 30, 2025
My gratitude to the Union Cabinet led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji for approving the ₹22,864 cr greenfield Guwahati Silchar Expressway.
This project will… pic.twitter.com/z1mxWqEMHW
Expressing gratitude on social media platform X, CM Sarma thanked the Central Government for approving the Rs 22,864 crore initiative, highlighting its strategic significance for Assam’s Barak Valley and the broader Northeast.
“My gratitude to the Union Cabinet led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for approving the Rs22,864 cr greenfield Guwahati Silchar Expressway. This project will cut travel time between Guwahati and Silchar by over 50% and revolutionise connectivity to Barak Valley. It will be the first in a series of expressways that will criss cross Asaam,” CM Sarma said.
According to an official release, the 166.80 km long corridor on National Highway-06 will stretch from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam, constructed using the Hybrid Annuity Model. Out of the total stretch, 144.80 km lies in Meghalaya and 22.00 km in Assam.
The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time and distance between Guwahati and Silchar while improving connectivity to key Northeastern states — Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur — along with Assam’s Barak Valley. Officials say it will enhance national logistics efficiency and support the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The expressway also promises to:
- Boost economic activity by improving inter-city links among Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar.
- Support industries in Meghalaya, particularly in cement and coal sectors.
- Promote tourism by connecting travelers from Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar airports to scenic destinations across the region.
The project alignment integrates seamlessly with major transport corridors including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, enhancing the transportation grid through key locations like Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, and Kalain.
Once completed, the Shillong-Silchar Expressway is expected to play a critical role in economic development across the Northeast, furthering the government’s goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat through infrastructure growth, employment generation, and regional upliftment.