Construction of Double Lane Bridge connecting RR Colony & Umpling will be completed by March, next

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 11, 2022

The tardy construction of the double lane bridge connecting RR Colony & Umpling have resulted in huge traffic jams in and around Rynjah area as the vehicles originating from Umpling area have to proceed towards Lapalang and vice versa thereby leading to bottle necks in Lapalang junction with vehicles coming from Rynjah/Lapalang or Umpling/Nongrah during the peak hours and at a time the spillover of traffic jams would be till Lad Nongrah or Rynjah.

During the inspection of the bridge on Tuesday by the members of the Assembly Public Account Committee (PAC) led by its Chairman and Nongthymmai Legislator Charles Pyngrope, the PWD officials and contractor attributed the tardy construction of the bridge due to the strike of COVID-19

Pyngrope said that progress of construction was slow down due to the pandemic that brought the works to a standstill in the year 2020 and the subsequent fallout because of the various restrictions imposed by the district administration which had to be done so to avoid the spread of the pandemic.

He also said that the Committee has been informed that by the end of March, next the construction of the Umpling Bridge, which is an important connector between the two parts of Shillong, will be completed by March, next.

According to him, a little time was lost due to the delay in bringing the bearings where the bridge sits on. The capacity of the bridge is 70 metric tons.

When asked, Pyngrope, also AITC chief and Nongthymmai legislor said, “We have been informed there has not been any escalation due to the delay. The project cost remains at Rs 4.35 crore.”

He also said they were also getting a lot of insinuations that the legislators were not taking interest to push for the early completion of the project but “you can’t ask a fellow to swim in the river and construct the bridge that is impossible.”

He pointed out the reason being the delay was due to COVID-19 pandemic followed by monsoon.

On the construction of the internal roads in the area, Pyngrope said that sanctions have been made and some works have been carried out but that was very slow.

“We have been informed today that all the schemes that were proposed under the rehabilitation or reconstruction of roads have been allotted to the contractors – that is one good step in the right direction. Now it is upto the contractors to start and get the ball rolling,” he said.

Stating that these roads are feeding new Shillong, Pyngrope asserted, “We cannot take it lightly as it is not a question of Nongrah, Umpling or anybody. If you want the decongestion of Shillong, you have to take special attention to all these roads.”

He further informed that the deputy chief minister had indicated that there is also a proposal for construction of another bridge over the Umkaliar that is from MES to Umpling and again connecting Ishyrwat.

“That is large and the total cost of that approximately at today’s rate will be Rs 70 crore but that is also a very important feeder bridge to ease the congestion from Shillong to NEIGRIHMS. That proposal will be put up in the next budget session,” he said.

As far as the Nongrah Water Supply Scheme is concerned, the PAC chairman said the project is a major concern as it was sanctioned way back in 2017-18.

He said the progress of work has been slowed down due to the nature of the soil which is more of rock in the area where they have chosen to build the raw water sub, which is the main reservoir that takes all the water from different sources.

“However, we were informed that by this year, though not very immediate, we will be able to draw water…for the residents of Nongrah village itself,” Pyngrope said.

The project amounting to Rs 5 crore will cater to over 2,216 households. However, the department is likely to review the numbers of beneficiaries.

When asked, the chairman said that there is water but it is concentrated only in certain parts of Nongrah.

“Now to bring that water to the top of the highest point of the Shnong will require large pumping sets so that will be installed shortly in the sense the orders for these have been given. We were made to understand there are 128 power pumps,” he said.

He further informed that the department has assured to complete the main reservoir before the rainy season starts.

“So by the end of January we have asked the engineers to start the construction of the pillars that will hold the slabs that will cover the tanks so that water can collect there,” he added.