Shillong, April 29: The proposed High-Speed Corridor between Silchar in Assam and Umiam will significantly boost economic activity in Meghalaya by increasing traffic flow through the state, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday.
Terming Meghalaya the “main transit state” in the region, he said, He said the expressway would drastically reduce travel time.
“When we mentioned about the express way you will understand that instead of travelling 3 hours, the distance is completely shortened so that itself you understand how many hours we save,” he said.
Apart from some portions in East Jaintia Hills, the land has been almost finalised for other portions in Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills district, he said.
Tenders have also been called for Package I and II of the project.
Terming it an economic corridor, Tynsong said, “Meghalaya is the main transit state, so ultimately the traffic flow will increase and the economic activities will also increase vehemently.”
The minister, however, ruled out the possibility of a six-lane expressway, saying the hilly topography of the state makes it quite challenging.
Tynsong said the four-laning of the Umiam-Shillong stretch has been entrusted to the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL). “We have already entrusted to NHIDCL. We have taken a decision from the state government that we are going for four-laning from Umiam junction or Lad Umroi upto Shillong,” he said.
