Inter State Truck Terminus also in pipeline
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a move which could slightly ease the traffic congestion in the city, the Planning Commission “in principle” has approved the much awaited Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT).
Informing this here recently, Transport Minister AT Mondal said that following the approval, the State Government has started the process of land acquisition to make the project a reality.
However, the Government is still awaiting for clearance from the Ministry of DoNER for the ISBT which would accommodate more than two hundred buses.
The total estimated budget for the project is Rs 48.31 crore and the ISBT is likely to come up at Mawiong.
“Money has been released from the Finance Department and we are trying our best to ensure that there are no glitches as far as land acquisition is concerned,” Mondal said.
The Government is keen on completing the land acquisition at the earliest considering the fact that acquiring land for a Government project in Meghalaya has always been a tough exercise.
Around ten acres of land would be required for the project and the Government is continuously pursuing the matter with the respected stakeholders, Mondal said.
In addition to the ISBT, the State Government has also mulled to construct an Inter State Truck Terminus (ISTT) for which land has been identified at Sumer. The project, though, is still in its initial stage.
The proposed ISTT is expected to largely reduce the traffic congestion in Guwahati-Shillong highway which is often clogged with traffic snarls mostly due to trucks plying along the route.
The city of late has been grappling with perennial traffic problem causing grave inconvenience to its residents. Timely completion of the above mentioned projects could go a long way in streamlining flow of traffic in and around Shillong.
However, the major hurdle, as always, could be the acquisition of land.