After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, relations with India have cooled significantly. As a result, the future of India’s connectivity with its northeastern states through Bangladeshi territory has become uncertain. In this context, India has chosen a new sea route via Myanmar from the Kolkata port to connect with the northeast.
According to a report by Indian Express, the Indian government has proposed a new highway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam. This highway is an extension of Myanmar’s significant multi-modal transport project. It will create an alternative sea route between the northeastern states and Kolkata in West Bengal.
A senior official from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) told The Indian Express that this project is considered a “response.” During a visit to Beijing in March, Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, said that Northeast India is “landlocked” and that Bangladesh is “the only guardian” to the ocean for that region. He also emphasized Bangladesh’s strategic role in regional access to the sea and opportunities for economic expansion with China.
The 166.8-kilometer four-lane highway will stretch from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong to Panchgram near Silchar along NH-6. It is the first high-speed corridor project in Northeast India, being implemented by NHIDCL on behalf of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The project is expected to be completed by 2030.
Meanwhile, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar, funded by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, connects the Kolkata seaport to Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. From there, goods are transported via the Kaladan River to Paletwa, and then by road to Zorinpui in Mizoram, India.
The NHIDCL official stated that the new highway will extend from Zorinpui through Lunglei to Aizawl in Mizoram. It’s not only the first high-speed corridor in the northeast but also the first of its kind in the hilly region. The Shillong-Silchar route is strategically important because Silchar serves as a major junction for Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Assam’s Barak Valley. This makes it a key connectivity route for the entire northeast and a milestone in India’s “Act East” policy, which seeks to strengthen ties and trade with Southeast Asia.
The official, who requested anonymity, added that with the help of the Kaladan project, goods can reach northeast India from Visakhapatnam (Odisha) and Kolkata (West Bengal) without relying on Bangladesh. The high-speed corridor will then ensure road transport of goods, boosting economic activity in the region.
Currently, the Siliguri Corridor—also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”—is the only route connecting India’s mainland with the seven northeastern states. The other two access routes pass through Bangladesh and Myanmar. However, Bangladesh has restricted ocean access and maintained control over its waterways. As an alternative, India and Myanmar jointly identified the Kaladan project. The goal is to make this connectivity operational even before the completion of the Shillong-Silchar highway.
On April 30, the Indian Cabinet approved ₹22,864 crore for the project. Of the total length, 144.8 km falls in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam. Once operational, the new route will reduce travel time from 8.5 hours to just 5 hours.
The NHIDCL official noted that the new highway will reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor. “Although the project is strategically important, it will also be one of the most challenging due to the tough terrain and poor condition of existing roads,” he said.
The Shillong-Silchar project will be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, specifically using the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). It will include 19 large bridges, 153 small bridges, 326 culverts, 22 underpasses, 26 overpasses, 8 low-height subways, and 34 viaducts.
Earlier, citing political instability and worker safety in Bangladesh, India suspended funding and construction of several railway connectivity projects through Bangladeshi territory. As a result, at least three ongoing projects were halted, and survey work for five more was also stopped. These projects were originally intended to connect India’s northeast with the mainland through Bangladesh.
According to The Hindu, the value of these projects was around ₹5,000 crore. Citing sources, the report said that New Delhi is now reassessing its strategy and considering strengthening rail infrastructure in northern India as well as exploring alternative routes through Bhutan and Nepal. These alternatives are estimated to cost around ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 crore.
The suspended projects were of great importance to India’s landlocked northeastern states (the Seven Sisters). Using Bangladesh’s railway network would have reduced India’s reliance on the narrow Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck), which currently connects the northeast to the Indian mainland.
An unnamed official quoted by The Hindu said, “At this moment, we are not supplying any construction material or other goods to Bangladesh. Funding for the connecting routes through Bangladesh has also been withheld. Political stability in the neighboring country is essential before moving forward. Meanwhile, construction on the Indian side is continuing as planned.”
According to The Hindu, bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh was $12.9 billion in 2024. Bangladesh remains India’s largest trade partner in South Asia.