Shillong to Kolkata: New Proposed High Speed Corridor Via Sea Avoids Bangladesh

The Indian government has approved a major new road project that will connect Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam. This highway will become part of a larger route that links the North-East to Kolkata by sea, without depending on Bangladesh.

New Highway Details

The new highway will be 166.8 km long and four-lane, running along NH-6.

It starts near Shillong (Mawlyngkhung) and ends near Silchar (Panchgram).

It is the first high-speed highway in the hilly areas of the North-East.

The road will reduce travel time from 8.5 hours to just 5 hours.

The project will cost Rs 22,864 crore and is expected to be finished by 2030.

An Alternative to the Siliguri Corridor

At present, the Siliguri Corridor (also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”) is the only land route connecting mainland India to the Northeastern states. There is also limited access through Bangladesh, but recent restrictions by Dhaka on sea-based movement have highlighted the need for independent alternatives.

This new route offers a third and self-reliant option integrating road and sea connectivity through the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar.

What Is the Kaladan Project?

The Kaladan Project, funded by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, creates a multi-modal transport network from Kolkata to Mizoram through Myanmar:

Sea Route: Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar

River Route: Sittwe to Paletwa via inland waterways

Road Route: Paletwa to Zorinpui on the Mizoram border

From Zorinpui, the network connects to Lawngtlai and further into Aizawl, Mizoram’s capital. With the new Shillong-Silchar highway, this route will now extend further into Assam and Meghalaya, offering a seamless corridor between Kolkata and the Northeast without crossing Bangladesh.

Strategic Significance Amid Regional Tensions

This project also serves as a strategic response to recent remarks made by Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, who referred to the Northeast as "landlocked" and dependent on Bangladesh for ocean access. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised that such rhetoric be avoided, reinforcing India’s intent to build self-sufficient routes.

The Shillong-Silchar highway is also a vital part of India’s Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asia.

Economic and Regional Impact

Silchar serves as a critical junction connecting the states of Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region of Assam. By improving road and sea access, this project is expected to:

Facilitate faster and more reliable movement of goods and people

Enhance trade opportunities within the Northeast and with mainland India

Promote tourism and investment in the region

Reduce strategic and logistical dependence on neighboring countries.

The Shillong-Silchar high-speed highway, when integrated with the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, marks a significant leap in India's infrastructure planning for the Northeast. By providing a direct sea-road corridor to Kolkata, this project not only boosts regional development but also strengthens India’s geopolitical position in the eastern region.

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