SHILLONG: In view of mounting pressure from all quarters, particularly from Jaintia Hills based pressure groups who have called night road blockade on January 27 and 28 in protest against the Government’s neglect of National Highway 44 which is in shambles, PWD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has now decided to approach the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for upgradation of the Highway from Jowai to Malidor.
Also in an attempt to convince the pressure groups to call off their proposed agitation, the PWD Minister has directed the deputy commissioners of both East and West Jaintia Hills to hold discussions with the pressure groups and explain to them the difficulties that might arise from the night road blockade.
The All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Jaintia Hills Unit, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) East Jaintia Zone and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP) Khliehriat Circle have called night road blockade on January 27 and 28 from 7 pm till 5 am of the next day to register their protest over the dilapidated condition of the Highway.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Friday, Dhar said, “I will visit the NHAI headquarters at the end of this month to press upon them to immediately start the construction of the Highway.”
The proposed expansion of NH-44 from Jowai to Malidor along the Meghalaya-Assam border which was scheduled to start last year has been delayed and the NHAI, which is the implementing agency, is likely to start the two-lane expansion work later this year.
Blaming the NHAI for delaying the construction work, an angry Dhar said, “They (NHAI) cannot say every time that they will construct the road. It is high time that the construction begins.”
Asserting that the tender for the project was called long time back, Dhar pointed out that the repair work would incur huge expenditure and the State PWD department does not have the means and resources to execute the project.
“We want the NHAI to start the work as early as possible,” Dhar said.
As per the proposed project, the NHAI will upgrade the existing road to a two-lane highway with paved shoulders on each side.
The total cost of the project is Rs 368.88 crore including Rs 2.28 crore for environmental cost and Rs 9.17 crore for shifting of utilities, land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation.
The expansion work of the arterial NH 44 had been approved under Phase III of the National Highway Development Programme. The project will be implemented by Simplex Infrastructure Limited, a Kolkata-based firm.
