Shillong, August 5: The Meghalaya government has officially initiated the land acquisition process for the ambitious ₹22,864-crore Shillong-Silchar high-speed corridor project, which promises to transform regional connectivity between Meghalaya and Assam.
The 166.80-km Greenfield four-lane expressway will begin from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong and terminate at Panchgram near Silchar, with 144.80 km of the route falling in Meghalaya and the remaining 22 km in Assam. The project is being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
As part of the process, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal has issued a notification directing villagers in the proposed corridor zone to halt all new construction or development activities without prior official approval. The administration has warned that any unauthorized structures—temporary or permanent—built after the issuance of the notice will not be eligible for compensation during land acquisition or project execution.
Seventeen villages have been identified for land acquisition, including Pyllun, Umeit, Umroi Labansaro, Nongrah, Nonglakhia, Wahmyntait, and Lumsohphoh, among others.
Officials emphasized that the high-speed corridor will significantly boost economic activity, trade, and transportation in the northeastern region by providing faster access between Meghalaya’s capital and lower Assam. The move marks a critical step forward in realizing the long-pending infrastructure push aimed at integrating the remote hill states with the national highway network.
