Shillong, June 15: Meghalaya took centre stage in India’s infrastructure development agenda as the North East India Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition (NEIINFRA) 2026 commenced at the Lariti Complex in New Shillong on Monday. The summit aims to strengthen regional connectivity, accelerate infrastructure growth, and unlock investment opportunities across the North East.
The event was inaugurated by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, DoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju, and other senior officials and industry leaders. The summit, hosted by the Government of Meghalaya in partnership with the Federation of Industry and Commerce of North East Region (FINER) and the Build India Foundation, has brought together more than 1,500 delegates, representatives from eight Union Ministries, all eight Northeastern states, and over 60 exhibitors.
Addressing the gathering, Gadkari reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to bringing the Northeast’s road infrastructure on par with the most developed states in the country. He praised the Meghalaya Government for organising the summit and expressed confidence that it would attract greater investment to the region.
A major highlight of the summit was the announcement of National Highway projects worth nearly ₹39,800 crore across Meghalaya, covering approximately 450 kilometres. The projects include the 165-km Shillong–Silchar 4-lane Greenfield Corridor worth ₹23,000 crore, the 66-km Jorabat–Barapani 4-lane Greenfield Corridor worth ₹8,500 crore, and the Darugiri–Baghmara–Dalu section of NH-217 worth ₹4,000 crore. Several other projects, including the Shillong–Dawki corridor, Tura Bypass, Pynursla Bypass and NH-127B connectivity works linked to the Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge, are also part of the development programme.
The proposed highway network is expected to significantly reduce travel times, improve connectivity to neighbouring Northeastern states, boost tourism, facilitate cross-border trade through Dawki and Dalu, and create employment opportunities across Meghalaya.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Northeast has moved beyond decades of instability and is entering a period of peace, growth and opportunity. He highlighted Meghalaya’s economic progress, noting that the state ranks among the fastest-growing economies in the country and has witnessed substantial investments in road infrastructure over the past few years. He described NEIINFRA as a platform to bring together governments, investors and stakeholders to transform challenges into opportunities and build long-term partnerships for regional development.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the Northeast is witnessing rapid transformation under the Act East Policy and stressed the importance of collaborative platforms such as NEIINFRA for accelerating development in the region.
During the inaugural session, dignitaries also released the Knowledge Papers and Vision Report prepared by a special committee led by IIM Shillong’s Atul Kulkarni. DoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju highlighted the Northeast’s emergence as a strategic growth engine and gateway to Southeast Asia, while Meghalaya Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed called for greater industry participation in infrastructure, digital technology and biotechnology sectors.
Meghalaya PWD Commissioner and Secretary Sanjay Goyal said the state has invested heavily in road and bridge infrastructure in recent years, with transformative projects such as the Shillong–Silchar corridor and the Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge expected to unlock new economic opportunities for the region.
The summit is expected to play a key role in positioning Meghalaya as a strategic gateway for trade, connectivity and investment in the Northeast and beyond.
