After decades of waiting, the people of the Northeast are finally on the cusp of witnessing the completion of the crucial final link of the Silchar-Saurashtra East-West Corridor (NH-27). State Minister Kaushik Rai has firmly announced that the highway will be operational for two-lane traffic by January 2026, with the full four-lane completion targeted for April 2026.
However, the excitement surrounding the impending completion is being tempered by sharp political focus on the historical delay that plagued the project for over a decade.
❓ The 12-Year Question: Why the Halt?
While the entire 3,300 km East-West Corridor connecting Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat) was conceived under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure in 1998, a critical stretch in Assam remained stalled for twelve years, effectively crippling the region’s connectivity.
Minister Rai, following an inspection of the 60 km segment from Balacherra to Nrimbanglo, strongly criticized the previous state administration for the lapse, highlighting the long-standing question:
“When the foundation stone was laid in 2004, the corridor was supposed to be a lifeline. But what explains the astonishing 12-year delay (2004-2016) on the Balacherra to Harangajao section? Why did the then Congress-led Assam Government’s Forest Department withhold the mandatory forest and environmental clearances for such a vital nation-building project?”
This section, which passes through the challenging terrain of Dima Hasao and includes the Barail Reserve Forest, was subject to administrative uncertainty during the tenure of the Tarun Gogoi-led Assam Government.
The construction of this 25.25 km section, initially stalled, only received the necessary departmental clearances in 2017 after the BJP government came to power in the state, allowing NHIDCL to finally resume work under a ₹670 crore budget.
🛣️ Current Progress and the New Alignment
The focus is now squarely on the remaining, geologically challenging stretch from Harangajao to Nrimbanglo.
- Elevated Corridor: Due to persistent issues in ‘sinking zones’ along the 49 km route, the central government approved an Elevated Corridor plan with a fresh allocation of ₹1,674 Crore.
- Near Completion: The 23 km section from Jatinga to Nrimbanglo is reported to be nearly complete, with final black-topping underway.
- Target Date: Minister Rai remains confident that the remaining work, particularly on the complex Harangajao to Jatinga section, will be completed, and the new two-lane alignment will be opened for traffic by January 31, 2026.
The Minister emphasized that while the final four-lane construction may continue in patches, the opening of the two-lane route will immediately fulfil the project’s goal: reducing the dangerous and lengthy travel time between Silchar and Guwahati and serving as a crucial economic link for Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
The completion of this highway is not just an infrastructural feat but the culmination of a political and public battle that lasted over two decades, making the question of the 12-year delay a central point of discussion as the region anticipates a new era of connectivity.
