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International Desk, May 17, 2025: Spurred by comments from Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, India has initiated plans to construct a 166.8-km four-lane expressway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam.
The ₹22,864 crore project, expected to be completed by 2030, aims to reduce India’s reliance on Bangladesh for connectivity to its northeastern states, known as the Seven Sisters.
During a visit to China in March, Dr. Yunus highlighted that India’s landlocked northeastern states depend on Bangladesh for maritime access, emphasizing Bangladesh’s strategic importance for China’s economic expansion. In response, India’s National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has undertaken this ambitious project to ensure the northeastern states are less dependent on Bangladesh.
An NHIDCL official told The Indian Express that Dr. Yunus’ remarks prompted the decision to build the expressway, which will be the first high-speed highway in the Northeast. The road will facilitate maritime connectivity between Kolkata and the Seven Sisters. However, while reducing reliance on Bangladesh, the project will increase dependence on Myanmar.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs is funding the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This project will connect Kolkata Port to Myanmar’s Sittwe River Port, Paletwa, and India’s Mizoram at Zorinpui through river and road networks. Additional infrastructure from Zorinpui to Longtlai and Aizawl in Mizoram will integrate the entire region.
The Shillong-Silchar expressway will serve as a gateway to Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Assam’s Barak Valley, boosting economic activity and ensuring seamless cargo supply. The official noted that the highway, along with the Kaladan project, will eliminate the need to rely on Bangladesh by enabling cargo movement from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Northeast.
Currently, the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck,’ is the only link between India’s mainland and its northeastern states. The new expressway and the Kaladan project will provide an alternative route via Myanmar. However, experts caution that constructing the highway in the hilly terrain may face challenges, including potential landslides.
On April 30, India’s Union Cabinet approved the project, marking a significant step toward enhancing connectivity and reducing strategic dependence on Bangladesh.
AI/MR
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