Shillong, 15 May (HS): The ambitious widening of the Shillong-Dawki corridor along National Highway-40 has begun transforming one of Meghalaya’s most important tourist and trade routes, but the ongoing construction has simultaneously intensified travel challenges for commuters and visitors navigating the hilly stretch.

The highway, connecting Shillong to Dawki near the India-Bangladesh border, is currently undergoing phased expansion from a two-lane road into a wider corridor with paved shoulders and selected four-lane segments. Authorities aim to complete the project by 2027 under Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funding through EPC mode execution.

While the project promises long-term benefits in regional connectivity, tourism and cross-border trade, the present condition of the road has emerged as a major concern, particularly across vulnerable stretches such as Pynursla, Laitlyngkot and Lyngkyrdem. Continuous hill cutting, excavation and widening work have increased the risk of landslides during the monsoon season, leading to recurring traffic disruptions and temporary shutdowns.

Frequent congestion has now become a routine experience for travelers using the corridor. Movement restrictions are often imposed at short notice to facilitate construction activity and ensure safety in landslide-prone areas. In several instances, vehicular traffic has remained stranded for hours due to road cave-ins, debris clearance operations and weather-triggered blockades.

The impact became more visible following an accident-related closure near Mawlieh in April this year, which highlighted the fragile condition of the under-construction route. Local transport operators say journey timings between Shillong and Dawki have become increasingly unpredictable as traffic diversions and repair activity continue across multiple work zones.

Despite the difficulties, tourism flow towards Dawki and nearby destinations has not completely slowed down. Visitors continue to travel to the crystal-clear Umngot River and border viewpoints, though many now prefer early morning departures to avoid long traffic snarls. Taxi operators in Shillong have also started advising tourists on alternate diversions depending on the daily construction schedule.

Officials associated with the project maintain that the expansion is essential for improving long-term road safety and accommodating rising vehicular movement along the international trade corridor. Package-wise construction activities, including the balance work under Package-V covering the Dawki Bridge section, remain underway.

Travelers have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement during heavy rainfall and monitor local traffic advisories before undertaking the journey. With the monsoon expected to intensify in the coming weeks, authorities are likely to continue regulating traffic movement in sensitive stretches to minimise risks.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash