Shillong: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced Rs 39,800-crore worth road projects for Meghalaya. This includes the proposed Rs 31,500-crore Guwahati-Shillong-Silchar four-lane corridor which is estimated to reduce travel time between these cities by half.
He was speaking on Monday at the inaugural session of the ‘North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026’. It was hosted on June 15-16 at the Lariti Performing Centre in Shillong.
Speaking at the event, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma claimed that the state was now the third fastest growing economy in the country. He said the state government’s budget has “more than doubled in the last eight years”, while its capital expenditure “increased by over eight times” during the period.
During the special sessions, industry leaders expressed a mix of confidence and concern about the region.
Nirmal Uday, COO of Shyam Metallics, cautioned that “a lot of work still needs to be done on ground”. He pointed out that “the North-East spends less than 60 percent of allocated capex (or capital expenditure)”.
He also pointed out problems such as ‘late payments to vendors’ and ‘lack of skilled local workforce’.
📍 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚
Addressed the inaugural ceremony of the North East India Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition – NEIINFRA 2026 in Shillong today. Meghalaya CM Shri @SangmaConrad Ji, Nagaland CM Shri @Neiphiu_Rio Ji, Meghalaya Deputy CMs Shri Prestone… pic.twitter.com/4H4zqywwIe
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 15, 2026
Brig M Kumar (retired) of the DS (Dharampal Satyapal) Group told the audiences that “the North-East provides both challenges and opportunities”. He added that while insurgency was initially a challenge, the government and local communities have overcome it.
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Digital infrastructure & tourism
In a session on ‘Tourism and Technology’, Union Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar said the biggest contributor to the growth of tourism in India is the growth of ‘infra’ that has happened over the last 12 years. He added that digital infrastructure, including initiatives like Digit Yatra, has also emerged as an important tourism enabler.
Cyril V Diengdoh, Commissioner & Secretary, Industries (Gov. of Meghalaya) spoke about the importance of locally relevant funding interventions for local communities such as the state government’s 70 percent subsidy for local tourist homestays.
There was also a discussion on ‘Green Energy’ with a focus on bamboo-fuel and small-scale hydro-power projects. Hidam Tonsana (GM Feedstock Supply Chain) from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) told audiences about their ‘bamboo-to-ethanol’ 25 MW bio-refinery plant in Assam, which relies on local farmers and entrepreneurs for bamboo supplies.
Sanjay Saahi from the Ministry of New & Renewable energy (MNRE) highlighted the government’s thrust on ‘small hydroelectric projects which have the potential to provide electricity to remote locations.
The NEINFRA summit was organised by the Federation Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER), in association with the Build India Foundation.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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