New Delhi

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two major decisions aimed at boosting infrastructure and ensuring transparency in data collection.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of a Greenfield Access-Controlled High-Speed Corridor from Shillong to Silchar. The 166.80 km four-lane highway, to be constructed on Hybrid Annuity Mode at a capital cost of ₹22,864 crore, will run from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam—covering 144.80 km in Meghalaya and 22.00 km in Assam.

The project is expected to significantly reduce travel distance and time, enhancing connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar, and improving access to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region. The corridor, passing through key districts and industrial zones in Meghalaya, will also aid in economic growth, promote tourism, and align with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan by integrating major transport corridors such as NH-27 and NH-37.

In a separate announcement, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government has decided to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming all-India census in a “transparent” manner. He noted that while the census falls under the Centre's jurisdiction, some opposition-ruled states have conducted caste surveys for political purposes. The decennial census, originally scheduled for April 2020, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The inclusion of caste data aims to improve policy formulation and ensure equitable development, as part of the Modi government's broader commitment to transparency and good governance.