By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The much hyped road expansion work from Lai-lad-Nongmynsong to Nongmynsong Bazar has come to a halt due to the non shifting of electrical polls in the stretch.
Though the project was targeted to be commissioned in December this year, but it is likely to miss its deadline as the black topping of the road is yet to be done.
It is learnt that the contractors has refused to go ahead with the black-toping unless the electric poles on the stretch are shifted.
There are about three electric poles on the one kilometers stretch where the road expansion work is underway.
The road’s width, from Lai-lad – Nongmynsong to Nongmynsong Bazar, is being expanded by an additional 10.5 meters from its current width of 10 meters. The project, covering road length of about 1 km, has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
Sources said that the PWD has not paid money to the corporation to shift the poles and hence the poles have not been shifted, causing delay in the completion of the work.
Usually, for shifting of one pole, MeECL charges about Rs 12,000 – 16,000.
Apparently, there are lots of applications lying in MeECL demanding shifting of the electric poles; but only those which have paid for shifting of pole in advance have got their work done.
While one may say that the MeECL has been profiting from shifting poles, the sources say otherwise. Surprisingly, the corporation claims ‘there is no profit’.
The Nongmynsong road expansion is expected to decongest the vehicular traffic at Nongmynsong and at the same time help in saving lives by decreasing the total time taken in ferrying patients to NEIGRIHMS.