Santa Mary says she would personally thank Shillong MP if Meghalaya is getting another Rs 290 Cr for repair and upkeep of NH-6

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 5, 2024

NPP leader and legislator from Sutnga-Saipung Santa Mary Shylla on Thursday said she would personally meet and congratulate the VPP MP from Shillong Ricky AJ Syngkon if the state is getting an additional amount of Rs 290 crore for the repairing of the dilapidated National Highway-6.

“We are happy that the Shillong MP had taken the initiative where he had said that he has got a sanction of Rs 290 crore. Since the state government has already received Rs 200.81 crore so it will be very good for our state if we get another additional amount of Rs 290 crore, which will be Rs 490 crore (in total),” Shylla told reporters.

“We will be more than happy and I myself will go and meet him and congratulate him for getting this (additional) amount,” she said.

The NPP leader from East Jaintia Hills was referring to reports alleging that the Centre had announced sanction of Rs 290 crore for repair and upkeep of NH-6 following Syngkon’s meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday.

Shyllai however said that the fact of the matter is that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 200.81 crore in October 2023 and the repairing works have been allotted to two contractors.

“The work is going on. They have commenced the work in the month of March and a tenure of one year has been given to complete the road,” she said.

 Shylla said, “We are so grateful to the government because the people of East Jaintia Hills especially Ratacherra have been suffering and have been agitating from time to time (due to dilapidated condition of the NH-6) prompting the government to take up the matter seriously and now we have got the sanctioned of Rs 200.81 crore. We thank the government of India and MoRTH and we hope to get more sanction in the coming days.”

Shylla said, “The Union minister (actually) was informing about the fund already sanctioned which is Rs 200.81 crore. Now additional amount that the MP is saying, I don’t know what additional amount is he talking about so that is why I am a little bit confused but the fact is Rs 200.81 crore has been sanctioned in October 2023 and remaining is still in process, DPR has been prepared and now we are waiting for the sanction. The remaining is Rs 89.90 crore. And overnight sanction is impossible, only God can do it.”

Clarification issued by Secretary incharge PWD (Roads & Buildings):

In a statement, the Secretary said that NHAI approved the proposal for strengthening and repair of NH-6 between Jowai-Ratacherra with a financial implication of Rs. 200.81 Crores on 17.10.2023 itself.

This approval was communicated videletter No E811162 dated 01.11.2023.

Further, the work has been taken up in two packages and the tender for packageI for the strengthening/improvement work, including regular maintenance work, from Km 69.200 to Km 120.200 was finalised and Letter of Acceptance vide letter No. 25941 was issued on 07.02.2024.

The contract agreement was signed on 08.03.2024, for contract amount of Rs. 77.81 crore and the work commenced on 23.03.2024.

Tender for second package for the strengthening/improvement work, including regular maintenance work, from Km 120.200 to Km 171.455 was finalised and a Letter of Acceptance No. 25914 was issued on 02.02.2024, for contract amount of Rs. 122.99 crore The contract agreement was signed on 22.02.2024, and the work commenced on 22.03.2024.

The Secretary said as regarding critical vulnerable locations on NH-6 and preparation of a mitigation plan for the same, M/s THDCIL had been selected by NHAI as the consultant responsible for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for landslide mitigation and slope stabilization at seven vulnerable locations, including addressing mudslide/landslide concerns at the Sonapur Tunnel area.

An MoU has been signed between NHAI and M/s THDCIL on 15th February 2024 to prepare the DPR for these seven locations.

The DPR amounting to Rs. 89.90 Crores for these locations was submitted by THDCIL and forwarded to Regional Office NHAI Guwahati on 18.06.2024 for the allotment of the work/tendering and the sanction of the same is awaited.

The secretary informed that the matter was taken up for early finalisation by Conrad K Sangma, CM of Meghalaya on 24th of June, 2024 during his meeting with Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt of India.