By CK Nayak
New Delhi: Bowing to constant pressure from the State Government, the Centre on Monday finally agreed to form a “Joint Project Monitoring Committee” to address all issues related to expanding the road network in Meghalaya including taking up most of the pending projects in the State.
A meeting between Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Dr CP Joshi here decided to form the Committee to address all related issues. The implementing agency, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), would also be part of this committee along with representatives of both the Centre and the State Governments, Ministry sources informed.
During the meeting, Dr Sangma informed Joshi that work on the Guwahati-Shillong National Highway-40 was making good progress.
The Chief Minister, however, wanted double-laning of two bypasses in Jowai and Tura expeditiously.
The State Government has acquired land for both the bypasses and has already submitted its proposal to the Centre.
The proposed Tura bypass will be vital for trade and commerce with Bangladesh, Dr Sangma added.
The Chief Minister also demanded for four-laning of the road at Mawryngkneng, which lies at one end of the proposed Umsning bypass, and Nakudgar on the border of Meghalaya and Assam since these two roads benefitted other states like Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.
Dr Sangma also demanded that the Agia-Medhipara-Phulbari-Tura road serving both Meghalaya and Assam should be declared as a national highway considering the heavy traffic and its importance. He also wanted a bridge across the Brahmaputra river connecting Dhubri and Phulbari for better connectivity.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Centre that the Jorabat-Umiam section of the national highways should be built with extra care for safety and aesthetic aspects. There should be good artistic plantation on both sides with prominent road markings so that the drive through this portion of the area would be like a joy ride, he added.
Dr Sangma pointed out that the landlocked but picturesque Meghalaya has already attracted many tourists both from home and abroad by investing heavily in “tourism mission”. A good road network especially the path leading to the capital city should become a tourist attraction in itself, he said.
The Union Minister, meanwhile, is expected to visit the State to oversee the progress of various major road projects in Meghalaya.