Chokpot, Nov 9: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday laid the foundation stone for the ₹136-crore Chokpot–Kharukol road project. The initiative is expected to improve connectivity across South Garo Hills.
Speaking at a gathering in Chokpot, the chief minister said the district had lagged behind the rest of Meghalaya in development and infrastructure for several years, but that this was gradually changing under the NPP-led government.
He said several previous governments and MLAs had tried and failed to get the road approved. His government secured the ₹136-crore sanction in coordination with the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The Ministry approved only two projects in Meghalaya, and this one received the highest priority. The chief minister thanked Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the sanction and said work had recently begun.
The 46.08-km road will start from Chokpot Bazar, connect to NH 217 (formerly NH 62) at Siju, and continue towards Kharukol. It will serve 14 villages with a combined population of 5,783: Warima, Budugre, Dagalgre, Kakhija, Kilbomagre, Papa Asakgre, Dobogre, Rekmangre, Paromgre, Dabalgre, Nokatgre, Tolegre, Nengrugittim and Siju.
The project includes widening the road to intermediate-lane standards, nine RCC bridges, culverts, pucca drains, breast walls and retaining walls. Excavation has started at kilometre 30, and mobilisation is underway.
The road is expected to offer the shortest route from Chokpot towards Shillong and Guwahati. It will also improve links between Tura and tourist destinations in western South Garo Hills.
Besides passenger connectivity, the road will serve as a freight corridor for coal and limestone headed to the Dalu and Gasuapara Land Customs Stations. It will also ease the movement of agricultural produce such as ginger, turmeric and arecanut.
The project is expected to strengthen a tourism circuit covering Warima Fish Sanctuary, Redingsi Wari, Goera Ronggat, Imilchang Falls, Chibanda, Wari Chora, Dombe Wari, Rekman Falls, Renang Falls, Ja’desil Fish Sanctuary and Nongkong Cave, with onward links to Siju Cave, Siju Bird Sanctuary, Baghmara and Balpakram National Park.
The chief minister also said Chokpot would emerge as an important junction connecting South and West Garo Hills. The government will plan its development across the economic, healthcare, education and business sectors.
On the Sandong–Chokpot road, he said connectivity must be developed comprehensively from Sandong to Chokpot and onwards to Silbbari. He said the government had held discussions with the World Bank and expected a positive outcome under the second phase of PACE. The first phase covered other parts of the state, and work under the second phase is expected to begin soon.
He also assured residents that he would personally assess the Chokpot–Sandong road on his way back to Tura, to determine whether major repairs are needed.
The programme was attended by Chokpot MLA Sengchim N. Sangma, Rongara Siju MLA Rakkam A. Sangma, MDCs, former MDCs and MLAs, district administration officials, departmental representatives and members of the public.
