SHILLONG — A major road corridor has been proposed across Meghalaya, running from Dalu through Baghmara, Ranikor and Shella before reaching Ratacherra near the Bangladesh border, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said.
The proposal was announced during Sangma’s visit to Tikrikilla and Raksamgre in West Garo Hills, where he inaugurated development projects and laid foundation stones for others.
“We have proposed a major road project from Dalu to Baghmara, Baghmara to Ranikor, Ranikor to Shella, and Ratacherra up to the Bangladesh border,” Sangma said. He said the proposed connectivity would open links towards Silchar, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura and could give a boost to trade and movement across the Northeast.
Road connectivity was a major part of Sangma’s address. He pointed to the change already seen in parts of Garo Hills, where journeys that once took several hours have been reduced considerably. The Baghmara-Rongara journey, he said, has come down from around three hours to between 30 and 45 minutes. Rongara to Ranikor, which earlier took about three hours, now takes around one hour.
“Road connectivity is directly linked to economic growth and boosting livelihoods. Therefore, we have prioritized road construction,” Sangma said. He said nearly 3,500 km of new roads have been constructed in Meghalaya over the last seven to eight years, averaging about 1.1 km a day. He also claimed that the pace was higher than anything seen in the state over the previous two decades.
At Jangrapara, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a concrete bridge under PWD Roads. A new Tourism Guest House at Nagargaon in Tikrikilla was inaugurated, while another Tourism Guest House at Raksamgre received its foundation stone. A private agro-processing unit, Megha Agro Gold, was also inaugurated at Tikrikilla. The unit will process betel nut, pineapple and jackfruit produced in the area.
The road proposal also comes alongside the nearly completed Dhubri-Phulbari bridge. Sangma said the ₹3,500-crore bridge as the longest in the region and said it would create further opportunities for trade and commerce across the Northeast.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the limits on government spending, saying infrastructure development has to compete with salaries and other regular commitments.
“We do not have an unlimited budget, so we must prioritize essential works and work with full dedication,” he said.
Beyond roads, Sangma said more than ₹200 crore had been sanctioned over the last four years for infrastructure across 56 blocks, including schools, block offices and healthcare centres.
He also praised the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council under CEM Dhormonath Sangma and the MDCs, saying the Council had made progress and undertaken reforms.
