Shillong-Silchar Highway and Kaladan Multi Modal Project
The proposed highway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam is a strategic infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity in the North-East region of India. It will serve as an extension of the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar, providing an alternative sea link between the North-East states and Kolkata.
Project Significance
- This project responds to concerns raised by Bangladesh about North-East India's landlocked status and aims to reduce dependency on Bangladesh for ocean access.
- The 166.8-km highway, part of NH-6, will be the first high-speed corridor in the North-East, facilitating faster transportation.
- It connects crucial regions like Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and the Barak Valley of Assam, supporting India's Act East Policy.
- The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time from 8.30 hours to 5 hours.
Infrastructure and Engineering
- The project will involve complex engineering work such as slope stabilization to predict landslides, given the challenging hilly terrain.
- Advanced technology such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning, rock anchors, wire mesh panels, and protection walls will be employed.
- Monitoring equipment like piezometers, rain gauges, settlement gauges, inclinometers, and geophones will ensure construction safety and reliability.
Economic and Strategic Impact
- The highway will reduce dependency on the Siliguri Corridor, the existing narrow passage to the North-East from the rest of India.
- The Kaladan project will enable cargo movement from Vizag and Kolkata to the North-East, reducing reliance on Bangladesh.
- Once operational, it will become a major connectivity link, spurring economic activities and development in the region.
Project Implementation
- Approved by the Union Cabinet at a cost of Rs 22,864 crore, the highway will be developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), a PPP model.
- The project includes 19 major bridges, 153 minor bridges, 326 culverts, and other infrastructure components.
- The construction aims to provide all-weather connectivity, enhancing regional development and strategic interests.
The Shillong-Silchar project, through its strategic and infrastructural advancements, is poised to transform the connectivity landscape of the North-East, aligning with broader economic and geopolitical goals.
