World Bank to soon sanction fund for Shella bridge: Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 17, 2022

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said construction of the Shella bridge over river Umiam is being taken on a priority basis.

The preparation of documents for implementation under Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode of contract is under process by the World Bank, Tynsong said while replying to a query raised by Shella legislator Balajied Kupar Synrem in the Assembly.

The bridge is being funded by the World Bank under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP).

“Construction of the bridge is very important, no doubt. Therefore, the state government and the PWD are in touch with the World Bank so once the detailed project report (DPR) is completed, I am very sure sanction will also be accorded simultaneously,” Tynsong said.

He said before floating the tender, there was a problem because of the non-availability of land adding “Due to that again we have to change the alignment and it was shifted downstream from the existing proposal.”

In fact the original DPR was estimated at Rs 20.49 crore and due to change of alignment, now the World Bank is undertaking the documentation of EPC, he said.

“Once the documentation is over then the successful bidder will again go for DPR and technical survey and thereafter they will submit the DPR to the World Bank for the necessary sanction,” he added.

When Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma wanted to know the targeted timeline for taking up projects under the MITP, Tynsong said the programme was started in 2021 and it will end up to 2026.

He informed as of now about 13 projects are already in progress and the remaining 8 projects, DPRs have been submitted. The projects are amounting to Rs 800 crore.