Meghalaya govt seeks ₹2,000 Cr from Centre to implement road projects

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 31, 2020

SHILLONG: The state government has sought financial support of nearly ₹2,000 crore from the Centre for the implementation of three important road projects in the state.

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong here on Friday, after his meeting with the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He said the detailed project reports (DPRS) for the three road projects which include Nongstoin-Wahkaji, national highway-62 and national highway-127B have already been submitted to the ministry.

“We had a meeting with the union minister and he has assured that the Centre is committed to examine the DPRs which I am sure very soon we will get the sanction,” Tynsong told reporters.

The deputy chief minister said the total cost for the three road projects will not be less than ₹1,500 crore or it may touch to ₹2,000 crore. Of this, ₹250 crore has been proposed for the strengthening of the existing NH-62.

The NH 127B will connect Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura upto Dhubri in Assam.

It may be mentioned here that NGOs in the state have been strongly opposing against two lane road project in West Khasi Hills region due to apprehension that it will only facilitate mining of uranium in the area.

Asked, Tynsong said the protest is over. “See that time (when they were protesting), the original plan was Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Domiasiat-Mawthabah but now after discussion with the concerned NGOs, we have changed the alignment and now the alignment is only Nongstoin up to Wahkaji, which is about 42-43 kilometers.”

According to him, the government is proposing to construct a standard road from Nongstoin-Wahkaji and not necessarily a double lane road.

Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister also informed that the government has also submitted a proposal to the world bank for improvement of the road from Mawngap-Mawphlang upto Weiloi. He said the Centre is also going to sanction for the Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai road, which will also connect the state with Assam.