Cabinet Approves Rs 25,000 Crore Shillong-Silchar Corridor

31 Jan 2025 CW Team

The Union Cabinet is expected to approve a landmark Rs 250 billion (approximately USD 3 billion) high-speed corridor connecting Shillong with Silchar, one of the largest infrastructure projects for the Northeast. This new 160-km route, set to be constructed along a greenfield alignment, aims to significantly reduce travel time between the two towns to just four hours.

Part of the central government’s Bharatmala programme, the project will enhance connectivity between Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura. Once completed, the corridor is expected to ease long-standing travel challenges caused by poor road conditions and frequent landslides, particularly on the Sonapur-Ratacherra stretch.

Conceived in 2017, the corridor will not only improve road infrastructure but also accelerate economic growth in the region. Despite technical difficulties preventing the expansion of the existing highway, experts argue that a new alignment is the most effective solution to improve connectivity.

However, the project faces opposition, with at least four villages in Meghalaya refusing to provide land for construction. Residents from Diengpasoh in East Khasi Hills, along with villages in West Jaintia Hills, have raised concerns, advocating for an upgrade to existing roads instead. Despite the resistance, the government insists that altering the route is not feasible due to the precise planning of the greenfield alignment.

Once the Union Cabinet formally approves the project, it is expected to provide a major boost to the region's infrastructure, improving not only local travel but also trade and commerce across the Northeast.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..