NHAI agrees to demands by Union
SHILLONG: With the National Highway Authority of India reacting positively to the demands made by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District, the Union on Tuesday withdrew their opposition to the inauguration of a tollgate which is all set to function at 20mer, on National Highway 6 (earlier NH 40) in Ri Bhoi, shortly.
It may be mentioned here, the KSU had opposed the proposed inauguration of the tollgate at 20mer considering the fact that the Umiam-Jorabat Expressway was incomplete, especially the Umsning By-pass, but the Union withdrew its opposition on Tuesday after the NHAI agreed to meet all the demands made by the KSU.
As a sign of withdrawal of their opposition against the tollgate at 20mer in Ri Bhoi, a delegation of the KSU, North Khasi Hills District, led by its president Ferdynald Kharkamni and general secretary Lambok Rymbai met Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey and submitted a letter stating that they had withdrawn their opposition to the tollgate.
Later, the KSU North Khasi Hills District president said that the Union withdrew its opposition to the inauguration of the tollgate as the National Highway Authority of India had replied positively to the memorandum submitted by the Union on various demands related to the four-lane project.
According to the Union, the NHAI has agreed to collect road tax at the toll gate by subtracting the tax for 5.13 km of the incomplete Umsning By-pass. The NHAI has also assured that the existing highway passing through Umsning would be blacktopped.
Meanwhile, the Union highlighted various problems faced by travelers on NH 6 due to the presence of the Weigh Bridge and Sales Tax gate at Umling causing road congestion and traffic jam.
The Union asked the deputy commissioner to take up the matter with the State government and ensure removal of the check gate from the highway.
The Union observed that erection of an integrated check gate on the NH 6 is illegal causing inconvenience to the public travelling on the highway and added that if the State government failed to remove the check gate, the Union will approach the court for justice.