DPR under preparation by NHIDCL ** ‘Entire stretch to be elevated road’
Shillong, Mar 4: With Shillong-Dawki four-lane road under construction, the capital city is not far from being connected by another four-lane highway, from Umiam or Barapani.
The detailed project report for the proposed four-lane Barapani-Shillong road is under preparation by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Council (NHIDCL), deputy chief minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong informed the state assembly on Tuesday.
NHIDCL was entrusted by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to carry out detailed survey and prepare the DPR in November 2024.
“The consultant (NHIDCL) is on the job and I am sure the DPR will be prepared very soon,” the deputy chief minister said in reply to a question in the assembly.
“The road will ensure economic development and ease the hardship of people,” he said.
The road will start at ICAR, Umiam and it will go through MeECL land and come down to industrial estate and then touch the existing Umiam bridge.
“The survey will come to Marten side and it will be disposed of near Umshyrpi bridge,” Tynsong said.
“The entire stretch of proposed four-lane project will be an elevated road,” he informed.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator from Amlarem and former cabinet minister Lahkmen Rymbui urged the government to review the vehicle height limit of 2.80 m while allowing the load limit of 9 MT on vehicles plying through the Umiam bridge.
Rymbui also urged the government to address the issue of price rise, allegedly caused by goods vehicles having to ply 80 km to reach Shillong, instead of 20 km through Umiam bridge.
The deputy CM, however, clarified that the height limit was imposed to prevent any unforeseen and unfortunate incident on the bridge, which underwent a major repair for last year.
To tackle the issue of price rise, he said, the government has taken up alternate measures such as a 23-km-long VIP Road to connect Shillong Airport at Umroi in Ri-Bhoi district.
The road is likely to be completed by the end of this year, he said.
“Once complete heavy loaded trucks can ply through this new approach road to Shillong. Also, the road from Mawdiangdiang connects Shillong Bypass, though the distance is more, people can use it to prevent plying from Umiam bridge,” Tynsong said.
On the status of Shillong Western bypass, the deputy CM said the project will be completed within stipulated time as the progress of work is “highly satisfactory”.
