By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Taking a hard-hitting stand on the progress of the Umiam- Jorabat Expressway project, Meghalaya PWD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Friday lambasted the IL&FS officials and concessionaire of the project asking them to speed up the construction work of the project.
The minister and Government officials during the inspection of the project were dissatisfied with the progress of the project and asked the agencies to deliver results at the earliest.
After being lambasted by the minister, the implementing agencies were dodging reasons for the holdup but the minister told them to ensure the timely completion of the project.
The inspection came from the minister a day after four people were crushed to death by an overloaded truck due to the awful conditions of the road.
Soon after the minister’s visit, temporary mixture was filled up along spaces where the road was uneven and could have lead to another catastrophe.
During the inspection of the entire 62 kilometer project, Dhar showed various accident-prone areas to the implementing agencies and asked them to immediately repair the appalling stretches of the road.
The implementing agencies accordingly agreed to take all preventive measures and repair the stretches of the road that needs immediate attention.
Speaking to media persons at the Byrnihat Circuit House, Umiam-Jorabat Expressway project Director Vinod Tripathi said that now the NKC and YFC agencies have taken over the project from Ramky Infrastructure Limited since the progress of the project was unsatisfactory.
Reacting to a query about the present progress of the project, he said that fifty percent of the project has been completed and the company will complete the remaining within the deadline in those areas where land is available.
He rued the unavailability of land while asserting that only 42-43 kilometer out of 62 kilometer road is available for the construction and that too in bits and pieces.
He also blamed the rainy season because of which work was halted for many months.
“We will start the work with full pace within ten days,” he told media persons while adding that the company will be responsible for the escalation if the project is further delayed.
It may be mentioned that a flyover would also be constructed under the project at Lad Umroi and the length of which will be around 600-800 metre, adding land acquisition for the flyover is under progress.
The 62-km four-laning of NH 40 (Umiam to Jorabat) has been taken up by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as the implementing agency with an estimated budget of Rs 536 crore.
As per the initial agreement, IFLS had assigned Ramky Infrastructure with the task of constructing the four-lane expressway from Jorabat to Lad Umroi and the latter then entered into a sub contract agreement with YFC Projects Private Ltd. for construction of the express way from Umdihar to Lad Umroi. Ramky has undertaken the task of constructing the highway from Jorabat till Umdihar.