From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: The Centre is monitoring the progress of work of National Highway 40 and 44 linking Meghalaya.
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highway Oscar Fernandes said this when a delegation from Meghalaya comprising Shillong MP Vincent H Pala and two MLAs from East Khasi Hills — Justine Dkhar and Hopeful Bamon – called on him here on Friday.
The delegation expressed their unhappiness over stoppage of work along Shillong – Guwahati (NH 40) and Jowai-Badarpur (NH 44).
“People are facing lot of hardship due to stoppage of work and non-maintenance of the road on this stretch,” Pala said.
They urged the Union Minister to take up the matter with the concerned departments so that the construction work starts as soon as possible to which the Union Minister readily agreed.
The widening work on the 100-km-long NH 40 between Guwahati and Shillong is moving at a snail’s pace.
After being pulled up by the State Government for the slow progress of the Jorabat-Umiam four-lane project, the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has assured completion of the project within the stipulated time. However, the NHAI has sought government intervention for settling land acquisition issues.
The NHAI has asked the State government to provide additional land along the existing highway. Work came to a halt after some freak incidents.
The 62-km four-lane of NH 40 (Umiam to Jorabat) has been taken up by the NHAI as the implementing agency which is doing the work through Ms Ramky at a tender cost of Rs 536 crore. While the work started in 2010 it is supposed to be opened for traffic in March next year.