Shillong, March 17: The Meghalaya government has scrapped the proposed elevated corridor and will instead widen the existing road to four lanes from Umshyrpi Bridge to Barik Point after consultations with the Army and highway agencies found the fly‑over unviable.
“The proposal of an elevated road seems to be not that feasible. We decided recentlly that right from Umshyrpi Bridge up to Barik Point will be converted into four‑lane instead of elevated road,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds PWD (Roads), told reporters on Monday.
Tynsong said the change followed a meeting chaired by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma and attended by the Army GOC.
“We discussed all the details and we have asked PWD and NHIDCL together with Army officers to have a joint inspection and ultimately work out how much area or land is required. But the decision was taken that day that four‑lane should be in place instead of an elevated road.”
The Army, he added, agreed in principle to part with the needed land pending the survey.
On the Shillong–Dawki road project, Tynsong said progress was on track.
“Right now the company…is trying their best to make sure that within the prescribed targeted date to complete it.”
