Shillong, Nov 4: Meghalaya has completed the World Bank-funded Integrated Transport Project, with around 330 km of road works finished and nearly 8 lakh people estimated to have benefited from improved connectivity, according to the lender’s latest implementation report.
The Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project, launched in 2020 to improve transport connectivity and efficiency in project districts and modernise transport sector management, closed on October 31, 2026, as scheduled.
The World Bank’s Implementation Status and Results Report, archived on November 2, said all activities under the project’s components had been completed, including civil works, consultancy studies and emergency restoration works following the devastating floods of June 2022.
The project’s overall implementation progress and progress towards achieving its development objectives were upgraded from “Moderately Satisfactory” to “Satisfactory” in the latest assessment.
The report estimates that 7,99,477 people, or around 20% of Meghalaya’s population, have benefited from improved transport connectivity through 18 completed road projects.
The initiative was implemented through the Meghalaya Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation, with the Public Works Department playing a key role in road infrastructure and maintenance.
Road connectivity and travel time gains
The project recorded improvements in last-mile connectivity and urban mobility, with 338.54 km of roads completed as of October 2026, exceeding the original closing-period target of 200 km.
The World Bank report also found that the share of the state’s classified state highways and major district roads in good or fair condition had increased from 40% in May 2020 to 64.5% in October 2026.
The project corridors recorded an estimated 39.06% reduction in travel time, while vehicle operating costs were estimated to have declined by 18.8%.
These improvements are expected to reduce the cost of road travel and make transportation more efficient for residents, businesses and agricultural producers, particularly in areas where poor road connectivity has long affected access to markets and essential services.
Focus shifts to climate-resilient roads
With Meghalaya’s road network frequently exposed to heavy rainfall, landslides and flooding, the project also sought to strengthen the state’s capacity to build and maintain climate-resilient infrastructure.
The report said the Public Works Department had developed designs for 205 km of roads using cost-optimisation and climate-resilient strategies. These roads are expected to be constructed under a subsequent World Bank-funded project.
The department has also designed 20 bridges using climate-resilient guidelines, with some of the proposed works expected to be taken up under the next project.
A network-level vulnerability assessment covering 656.93 km of roads and bridges was completed, while guidelines for innovative, climate-resilient and nature-based solutions were prepared and brought into use.
The World Bank report noted that the climate strategy was developed midway through the project, with recommendations subsequently incorporated into road design.
Transport sector reforms
Beyond road construction, the project has also supported reforms in transport planning, road asset management and institutional capacity.
The Meghalaya Transport Board was established through an order dated March 3, 2026, providing a formal institutional mechanism for policy guidance and oversight of transport programmes.
The state’s Transport Sector Modernisation Plan has also been prepared and approved by the Transport Board.
The Integrated Transport Network Development Plan, which provides a framework for planning the state’s transport network, was accepted and adopted by the Meghalaya government.
The report further noted that an Asset Management Information System had been established for the Public Works Department network, with district-level annual maintenance plans prepared and disclosed.
The Road Research Laboratory of the PWD has been notified as a Centre of Excellence, while the state has also developed a Transport Sector Vision 2030 and Financing Plan.
Road maintenance and safety
The project placed considerable emphasis on maintaining existing roads, with 2,193.11 km of the road network brought under maintenance contracts as of October 2026.
This was substantially higher than the project’s original closing-period target of 1,000 km.
The state’s Road Safety Action Plan is also in place, with detailed designs available for retrofitting road safety measures on 200 km of roads.
Road safety audits and inspections covering 602 km had been conducted by October 2026, while the report recorded an improvement in road users’ perception of the quality of the road network.
The project also supported gender-focused interventions in road maintenance and transport sector capacity-building.
According to the report, 50% of maintenance contracts had been awarded to women-led groups, while 73.87% of female PWD staff had been accredited in at least two technical modules under the department’s Human Resources Strategy.
Project closes without extension
The project was approved in October 2020, with an original closing date of October 31, 2026.
The project had an approved financing amount of $120 million. The latest financial performance report showed that $106.35 million had been disbursed, accounting for 88.63% of the total amount.
The World Bank said the project had completed its activities without requiring an extension of the closing date.
