Simultaneous work on road projects worth 5000 cr unprecedented in Meghalaya: Tynsong
Shillong, Jan 18: As many as eight major road projects amounting to over 5,000 crore are currently under implementation in Meghalaya and this itself is an unprecedented development, according to the state government.
“There is no government in the history of Meghalaya right from 1972 till today, but it is only this government which could bring such projects,” said deputy chief minister Prestone Tyonsong in-charge PWD (Roads & Buildings) after holding a review meeting on the road projects on Friday.
“I am happy to inform all of you that the progress of work is good,” he told reporters after the meeting.
Once completed, which the government want to do at the earliest, these roads will be a “big blessing” to the people of the state, he said.
The eight road projects include Dainadubi-Darugre (40 km) at ₹705.83 crore; Darugre-Williamnagar (36 km) at ₹801 crore; Tura-Dalu (51 km) at ₹610 crore; Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai (33 km) ₹359 crore; Shillong Western bypass package I (12.8 km) at ₹620 crore, package II (11.90 km) at ₹686 crore, and package III (13.55 km) ₹562 crore; Shillong-Dawki at ₹1200 crore; Tura Bypass at ₹943 crore; and High Speed Corridor from Mawlyngkhung (from the flyover at Umiam lake up to Panchgram in Assam).
The amount sanctioned for the High Speed Corridor project will be known only after submission of the DPR for which discussions and negotiations are under way with the local rangbah shnong, he said.
Reiterating that land acquisition is a big hurdle in implementing road project in Meghalaya, the deputy CM said, “75 per cent of the time of our review meetings is spent on land acquisition issue.”
In order to speed up the projects, the government has instructed all the departments concerned to work at a faster pace, he said.
“I’m very sure within a few years we will be able to see transformation taking place in the state,” he said.
On the status of Shillong-Dawki road, Tynsong said the progress has been good in the work at package I, II, IV and V and that the project would be completed by 2026.
However, there have been a few instances of objections from landowners due to non-receipt of land compensation.
The DPR for Package III, which is Pynursla Bypass, has been approved and the project cost comes to around ₹564 crore, he added.
Meanwhile, around ₹25,000 crore has been earmarked by the Central Government for a Corridor Expressway up to Silchar in Assam.
The cost estimated for the Meghalaya part will not be less that ₹15,000 crore, he informed.
However, he said, Government of India specifically asked the state to ensure it to be an entirely greenfield project which won’t connect any existing road.
“We have to make a separate road altogether…we have to avoid villages and even expansion of any existing road,” he said.
