By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Setting an example of civic consciousness for the rest of the city, Nongmynsong has become the first locality in Shillong to implement the road expansion work to ease the growing traffic congestion in the area.
The expansion work at Nongmynsong is quite credible considering the lack of support from the public for any such expansion work in other parts of the city and the State as people do not want to part with their land for widening of the roads despite the growing menace of traffic congestion.
GAD minister and Pynthorumkhrah legislator, AL Hek, while informing about the expansion of road in Nongmynsong, said that the project was sanctioned under the special plan assistance. He also informed that the contractors who have been allotted the work have already started the road expansion work and if everything goes as per plan then the project would be commissioned in the next three months.
“The expansion work for the 500-metre stretch from Nongmynsong market to Lai – Lad has begun and people have also started dismantling their shops and buildings to make way for the expansion of the road that will largely ease traffic congestion in the area. The residents had requested to dismantle their properties themselves as they feared that the Government would damage their properties randomly,” Hek said, while adding, “We have agreed to their request.”
It is learnt that the scheme would also include construction of proper drains as well as footpaths in the area.
Reacting to a query about the land acquisition problem, which is the biggest roadblock for any project in Meghalaya, Hek informed that the Government had held several rounds of discussions and meetings with the residents and managed to convince them to part with their lands for people-friendly projects.
“Around Rs 7 crore has been sanctioned for land compensation alone,” he added.