SHILLONG: The Centre has approved projects worth Rs 487.20 crore for construction of roads and bridges in the State after the recommendation of an empowered committee in this regard.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday, Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, said the empowered committee in its meeting held on Thursday had considered and recommended approval of schemes for Meghalaya under the Rural Roads Project-II under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The proposal of Rs 487.20 crore is for the construction of 198 roads with a total length of 740.38 km and 32 long-span bridges. The projects are for East Garo Hills (Rs 152.32 crore), East Khasi Hills (Rs 27.64 crore), Jaintia Hills (Rs 47.32), Ri Bhoi (Rs 42.08 crore), South Garo Hills (Rs 3.67 crore), West Garo Hills (Rs 195.28 crore) and West Khasi Hills (Rs 18.89 crore).
According to Ramesh, the empowered committee advised the State to accelerate the pace of ongoing work (including 22 works sanctioned prior to March, 2011). The committee also wanted quality monitoring of the works.
Ramesh asked the State Government to direct the department concerned to expeditiously send the compliance report on the observations of the committee to the Union Rural Development Ministry to enable formal clearance of the proposal.
