Guwahati, Mar 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the Shillong-Silchar Corridor, North-East India’s first access-controlled Greenfield four-lane high-speed highway. The 166 km project, costing ₹22,860 crore, is expected to reduce travel time between Guwahati and Silchar from 8.5 hours to approximately five hours, improving connectivity between Meghalaya and Assam and supporting regional trade and economic growth.

At the event, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the initiative’s significance for the state’s development. PM Modi also laid the foundation for an elevated corridor on NH-306 (Phase 1) from Trunk Road near Capital Point to Rangirkhari Point in Silchar. The corridor aims to reduce traffic congestion and enhance connectivity to Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur.

In Karimganj district, the Prime Minister performed Bhoomi Pujan for a new College of Agriculture at Patharkandi, intended to strengthen agricultural education and research for students in Barak Valley and surrounding areas.

The visit follows a series of infrastructure launches: on March 13, PM Modi inaugurated projects worth over ₹4,570 crore in Kokrajhar and dedicated 13 initiatives in Guwahati valued at ₹19,577.58 crore across sectors including hydrocarbons, power, shipping, and railways at Jyoti Bishnu Antarjataik Kala Mandir. Key announcements included handing over land rights to tea workers and releasing the 22nd PM-KISAN instalment nationwide.