Meghalaya govt asks police to probe into multi-crore scam pertaining to Rs 2,300 Cr road project 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 21, 2024

The state government has ordered an investigation into a multi-crore scam pertaining to the construction of a road project connecting Shillong with Tura, via Nongstoin and Rongjeng.

An FIR filed in this regard has named nine people including officials of two private companies from Telangana and Haryana.

The case was filed by the Chief Engineer (National Highway) PWD (Roads) AM Kharmawphlang on September 10 this year with Sadar Police station as directed by the state government. The period of probe sought is from September 20, 2010 to September 10, 2024.

The place of occurrence is the office of Chief Engineer (National Highway), PWD (Roads) Shillong.

The road project cost over Rs 2,300 crore. It was approved in 2010 as part of the Special Road Development Programme-North East of the central government.

“Several lapses have forced the government to lodge an FIR into the road,” a senior official of the Public Works Department said.

According to the FIR, the cost of the Rs 1303.83 crore initial contract was revised several times and it was enhanced to Rs 2366.77 crore. The original scheduled date of completion was 2014.

“… officials/engineers in collusion with the contractors have cheated, defrauded, indulged in fabrication of record and adopted corrupt means to cause huge loss to the public exchequer,” the FIR said.

The conspiracy is required to be unearthed by a systemic, detailed and thorough police investigation, it said.

A senior police officer said a case was registered and an investigation is on.