Due to political instability in Bangladesh, India is rethinking its connectivity routes to the Northeast region. With growing uncertainty over using Bangladesh’s territory to link the Indian mainland with its seven northeastern states, New Delhi is exploring alternative pathways.
A proposed 166.8-kilometer, four-lane expressway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam is set to become the region’s first high-speed corridor. This route will connect with India’s Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project, which links the port of Sittwe in Myanmar to Zorinpui in Mizoram. This new corridor aims to facilitate the movement of goods and people from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports to the Northeast without relying on Bangladesh.
Several railway projects through Bangladesh have been suspended due to ongoing political and security concerns, and surveys for additional projects have been halted. Meanwhile, India is also considering alternative connectivity through Bhutan and Nepal, with an estimated investment of 3,500 to 4,000 crore rupees.
Though Bangladesh remains one of India’s largest trading partners with bilateral trade reaching $12.9 billion in 2024, the evolving diplomatic tensions have prompted New Delhi to reduce dependency on Bangladesh and prioritize new routes to strengthen ties with its northeastern states.
