The Guwahati-Shillong Highway-6 will receive lighting upgrades over the next six months, with existing street lights at locations including Byrnihat and Nongpoh set to become operational and additional fixtures planned along several dark stretches.
Ri-Bhoi deputy commissioner Abhishek Saini said the administration had discussed the lighting work with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the local MLA. The highway, earlier known as NH-40, connects Guwahati in Assam with Shillong in Meghalaya through Jorabat, Nongpoh and Barapani, also known as Umiam Lake.
Officials said activating lights that have already been installed would be the first step. A proposal has also been made to extend lighting coverage in Nongpoh and beyond. Work on additional installations has begun at various locations, with sources indicating that around seven to 10 stretches, each approximately 3km long, are being covered.
The route is one of the busiest inter-city corridors in the Northeast and is used by government, defence, commercial, tourist and private vehicles. Ambulances carrying patients also use the highway, making night-time visibility an operational concern for both regular traffic and emergency services.
Several sections remain unlit, particularly across the hilly terrain between Guwahati and Shillong. Officials and residents have linked the absence of illumination to increased risks for motorists, especially during heavy monsoon rain when visibility can deteriorate and road conditions become more difficult to read. Residents living along the highway had requested improved lighting in the area.
The planned intervention is focused on two parallel measures: bringing existing street lights into service and installing new lights where coverage is absent. The distinction is significant for a highway that passes through multiple settlements and administrative jurisdictions, as lighting coverage depends not only on construction but also on activation, maintenance and coordination among the district administration, highway agencies and local authorities.
The Guwahati-Shillong road is a key connection between the capitals of Assam and Meghalaya and serves as a gateway to commercial, tourist and administrative movement across the region. Byrnihat and Nongpoh are among the locations where lighting infrastructure is already present or being expanded, while further dark stretches are expected to be addressed under the ongoing work.
The additional lighting work is expected to be completed in about six months. Officials have not provided details in the supplied report on the total number of fixtures, project cost, power arrangements or the agency responsible for long-term maintenance after installation.
