SHILLONG, June 21: Meghalaya is seeking “strategic status” from the Union Defence Ministry for the Ranikor-Dalu road stretch, a move aimed at bypassing bureaucratic bottlenecks and completing a critical economic corridor linking the Khasi and Garo Hills.
Securing this designation would likely shift the project’s funding and execution from civilian agencies to the Border Roads Organization (BRO). Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, following a meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, identified the stretch as the “missing link” in the state’s Southern Corridor that remains stalled under current administrative frameworks.
The Ranikor-Dalu route is vital for connecting South West Khasi Hills to the international trade hub at Dalu in West Garo Hills. Once completed, the road will link National Highway 217 to the Phulbari-Dhubri bridge, transforming a remote border region into a transit hub for international trade with Bangladesh.While the Chief Minister stated that Singh agreed to examine the proposal, the project remains in the preliminary stages. Sangma previously raised the matter with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who indicated that the Defence Ministry must take the lead due to the corridor’s significance to national security and border infrastructure.
Beyond the border corridor, the state is also negotiating with the Army for land required to expand Shillong Airport and the proposed four-laning of the city road from Rilbong to Barik Point. Sangma indicated that while “details are being worked out” with local authorities, a final agreement for the Army to relinquish the land has yet to be formalised.
