SHILLONG: Confusion over a patch of land has come in the way of two major projects — construction of Shillong Bypass and expansion of Shillong Airport at Umroi.
“The land sanctioned to the NHAI for the bypass has also been acquired by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for the expansion of the airport,” a National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) official looking after the bypass project said on Sunday.
The Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district will meet the parties concerned on Tuesday to eke out a solution to the issue.
However, the AAI authorities downplayed the problem. “Only a minor portion of the airport boundary wall is coming in the way of the bypass,” AAI official of the Umroi Airport V Mohan said.
“I spoke to the Deputy Commissioner last month on the issue and he assured that the problem would be sorted out,” Mohan said.
On the other hand, the NHAI has made it clear that it would not be possible to re-align the entire portion of land marked for the bypass.
Another stumbling block in the project is a forest reserve. The NHAI requires around 0.54 hectares of the forest land for construction of the bypass.
“Since the forest land we require is below one hectare the State Government does not need to seek environment clearance from the Centre,” the NHAI official said.
Meanwhile, the monsoon showers have affected the construction work on the 47.06-km-long Shillong bypass linking NH-40 at Umiam in Ri-Bhoi district with NH-44 at Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills district.
The NHAI is, however, confident that the bypass, delayed for 20 years, would be completed before three years.
The Rs 220.35-crore road with one major bridge and eight minor ones is expected to considerably ease the traffic congestion in the city.
