Shillong (Meghalaya), June 15: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today laid the foundation stone and dedicated six National Highway projects worth ₹3,214 crore to the nation at Polo Ground, Shillong, kicking off a new phase of infrastructure growth for Meghalaya. The projects cover more than 117 km and include new bypasses, corridor upgrades, and critical links to border areas.
Joined by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Speaker Thomas A Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, and other dignitaries, Gadkari said Meghalaya’s natural beauty and economic potential need strong roads to unlock growth, tourism, trade and jobs. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state is undergoing an unprecedented transformation in highway connectivity, with projects worth about ₹52,400 crore currently under implementation. Around 820 km of National Highways have already been completed, 310 km are under construction, and another 450 km are in planning and execution stages. Recent deliveries like the Shillong–Nongstoin–Tura Trans Meghalaya Highway have cut travel time between Shillong and Tura from 12 hours to about 6 hours, while roads such as Jorabat–Umiam, Tura–Dalu, Jowai–Malidor and Ranikor–Baghmara have strengthened access across the state and to border regions.
Among the six projects launched today, Package-I of the Shillong–Dawki road spanning 11 km at ₹351 crore has been completed and will improve connectivity to Dawki and the India–Bangladesh border, boosting tourism, trade and regional economic activity. The 5 km Jowai Bypass built at ₹106 crore has eased congestion in Jowai town and improved road safety and travel efficiency.
Foundation stones were laid for four major works. The 29 km Tura Bypass on NH-127B and NH-217, costing ₹952 crore, will divert traffic from densely populated parts of Tura and speed movement toward the Dalu border. The 32 km Durgiri–Phulbari Bridge to Selsella–Simbukolgre section on NH-127B, valued at ₹737 crore, will complement the upcoming Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge over the Brahmaputra and strengthen connectivity in West Garo Hills and to neighbouring states. The 8 km Pynursla Bypass on NH-206, at ₹564 crore, will decongest Pynursla town and enhance links to Dawki, the Umngot River and the international border to support tourism and cross-border trade. Package-II from Selsella–Simbukolgre to Koiragre, covering 32 km at ₹504 crore, will further improve freight movement and regional economic growth in West Garo Hills.
Gadkari said the Shillong–Dawki corridor under development will improve connectivity with Bangladesh through the Tamabil border, ease congestion in Upper Shillong, reduce travel time and strengthen strategic and economic linkages. He added that the new projects will provide a major boost to trade and tourism in Dawki, Dalu and Sohra, generate large-scale employment and self-employment, improve access to healthcare and emergency services in remote areas through better links to Shillong and Guwahati, and strengthen agricultural value chains and traditional livelihoods including bamboo and cane crafts, Eri silk handloom and black pottery.
He also announced upcoming highway projects worth nearly ₹39,800 crore covering 450 km in Meghalaya. The flagship 165 km, ₹23,000 crore Shillong–Silchar 4-lane Greenfield Corridor is expected to cut travel time between the two cities by nearly 50 per cent and provide faster access to Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. The proposed 66 km, ₹8,500 crore Jorabat–Barapani 4-lane Greenfield Corridor will reduce Guwahati–Shillong travel from 2.5 hours to one hour and form part of a future Siliguri–Guwahati–Shillong–Silchar Economic Corridor. He also highlighted the 136 km, ₹4,000 crore Darugiri–Baghmara–Dalu section of NH-217 to improve connectivity in Garo Hills and border areas adjoining Bangladesh, along with the Pomlum–Umtyngar section of the Shillong–Dawki corridor, improvement of the Tura–Dalu route, the Tura and Pynursla bypasses, and NH-127B links to the Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge.
Gadkari reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering world-class highway infrastructure across Meghalaya to ensure faster, smoother and safer transportation, and expressed confidence that the ongoing and proposed projects will accelerate economic growth, create jobs and contribute significantly to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
