Ministry of DoNER yet to release fund for Borghat-Sonapur road project

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 19, 2021

The state government is waiting for the Ministry of DoNER to release the sanction for construction of the Borghat-Sonapur road along the Indo-Bangla border in East Jaintia Hills district. 

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Road) Prestone Tynsong.

He said decision was in fact taken long time back but unfortunately, the Ministry of DoNER is yet to sanction the funds. 

“Of course during the current year, I had a meeting with the Union Minister of DoNER, who has already assured us that this year sanction will be accorded to this particular road project,” Tynsong said. 

The deputy chief minister also assued that once sanction is received, the state government will immediately float the tender. 

“We have already submitted a DPR, the estimate of which is around Rs 90 up to Rs 100 crore and now we are waiting for the ministry to sanction the funds,” he added.

On December 15, the Meghalaya High Court had asked the state government to obtain funds for commencing the work of metaling the Borghat-Sonapur road.

In its order, the division  bench said, “Immediate steps should be taken to obtain funds and commence the work of metaling the said stretch of nearly 40 km, particularly since the internal communication between places on the route have been seriously impeded because of several stretches being virtually non-motorable.”

A letter issued by the Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads) revealed that the in-principle clearance for the 39.6 km stretch to be metalled has been granted by the North Eastern Council under the North East Road Sector Development Scheme.

The letter also informed that an Empowered Inter Ministerial Committee having met on July 7, 2021 when it was agreed that the State government would fund the balance amount of the project beyond the available outlay of Rs. 62.02 crores.