By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While land acquisition has proved to be a major bottleneck for several projects in most parts of the State, the ongoing Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura highway project in East Garo Hills seems to be on track with land owners of the district showing generosity by eagerly handing over their lands for expansion of the road.
Informing that the people of his district have already handed over their lands for the ongoing Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road expansion work, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vijay Mantri on Sunday said that fifty per cent of the work in his district has been completed for the project.
“People here handed over the land to us one year back despite compensation not being paid to them,” Mantri added.
On the other hand, West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner S Kharlyngdoh, while stating that the progress of work is good in his district, said that construction is going on in those areas where land has been acquired while in other stretches the land acquisition is going on.
The estimated budget of the vital road project, which will improve connectivity between the eastern and western parts of the State, is Rs 1494 crore. East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that the project starts from Upper Shillong and some re-alignments were needed to be done for the project by PWD.
“I believe PWD is still surveying the changes in the re-alignment and we are waiting for their report,” Goyal added.
The project, once completed, would provide major relief to the people who have to travel through Assam to reach Garo Hills since the existing Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura Highway is in a dilapidated condition despite the road being declared as a National Highway in 2004.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said that only a 10-kilometer portion of the road falls under his district and therefore the construction work in his district is being looked after by the PWD wing of Williamnagar, East Garo Hills. It may be mentioned that the project is being implemented by Hyderabad based firm M/S BSC-C &C (JV).
