By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Even though the State Government had earlier asserted that all empty trucks would be diverted through the Mawlasnai -Nartiang road from February 13, the administration is actually mum on whether the empty trucks would actually be diverted from Monday onwards.
Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, als in charge of the PWD, had, during an inspection of the road last month announced that empty trucks plying through National Highway 40 would be diverted from Lad Umroi through the newly-inaugurated Umkhen bridge via Nartiang to 8 miles in Jaintia Hills and connect to National Highway 44 from February 13 onwards.
Accordingly, the Umkhen bridge which connects Ri Bhoi district with Jaintia Hills, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday last, but surprisingly so far there has been no official word from the State Government on whether the empty trucks would be diverted through the Mawlasnai-Nartiang stretch from February 13.
When contacted, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Akashdeep said that empty trucks can pass through this road.
“In order to make the road more comfortable work is going on,” he said.
Taining Dkhar, Deputy Commissioner of Jaintia Hills, under which a major portion of the road falls, however refused to comment anything on the matter saying PWD should comment on the matter.
All attempts to contact PWD minister HDR Lyngdoh failed since his cell phone was switched off on Sunday evening.
The Government’s assertion to divert the empty trucks through the stretch had been welcomed by people as it was expected that the diversion would largely reduce the traffic snarls in the city as well as on the national highways.
Meanwhile, the representative and members of the Raid Thadrang has opposed the Government’s idea to ply the empty trucks through the road citing that the road was narrow and congested and it could pose threat to the lives of people inhabiting the villages located along the road.