Meghalaya pushes for new economic corridor through Bangladesh

Meghalaya wants to enhance its own economy and connectivity with the rest of India by creating a new transnational economic corridor between Hili, a border town in west Bengal and Mahendraganj is a border town in Meghalaya's Garo Hills.

Both areas share the border with Bangladesh.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the 100-km route has the potential to shorten travel time and cost by 25-60% from Kolkata to growth centres such as Tura, Baghmara, Dalu, and Dawki, reports NDTV.

Presently, road alignment analytics prepared by the NHIDCL have been shared with Bangladesh for conducting a feasibility study for the project.

"If the connection between Hilli in West Bengal and Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through Bangladesh happens, places like Meghalaya, Barak Valley and Tripura will be connected with Kolkata in the shortest distance, and 600-700 km will be cut," Sangma said.

"This will become a parallel economic corridor. But when it will happen is a little difficult to say since this involves the Bangladesh government. Before the regime change, New Delhi discussed it with Dhaka and it was a prime ministerial-level meeting. We will push for it again," he said.