Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: The Union Cabinet today approved the proposed Rs 22,864-crore and 166-km-long Green Field High Speed Shillong-Silchar Corridor.
Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made it known before the media that the construction of the high-speed corridor would take three years for its completion. “It will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, improving connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Imphal, Aizawl and Agartala. Since the corridor will have to snake through hilly terrain, we have taken all precautionary measures, besides taking detailed necessities for tunnels,” Vaishnaw said.
Of the 166-km length of the proposed corridor starting from Panchgram near Silchar to Mawlyingkhung near Shillong, a stretch of 22 km will be in Assam and 144 km in Meghalaya. The corridor will improve the service level for the traffic moving from Guwahati to Silchar, improving the connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya and sparking economic development, including the development of industries in Meghalaya. This corridor will cater to the national and international tourists coming from well-connected Guwahati Airport, Shillong Airport and Silchar Airport connecting Guwahati to Silchar. This critical infrastructure project will improve inter-city connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong and Silchar, traversing through Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaitia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts in Meghalaya and Cachar district in Assam. It will reduce congestion on the existing National Highway 6.
The project will need 74 lakh man-days directly and 93 lakh man-days indirectly. Rs 3,503 crore have been earmarked as the land acquisition cost of the project.
Also read: Silchar East West Corridor to be completed by June 2027: Gadkari
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