SHILLONG: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sought additional land from the State Government to deal with perennial problem of landslide along the Shillong-Guwahati road.
A senior official of NHAI informed that the matter was taken up with the State Government long back but no progress has been made so far in this connection.
It may be mentioned that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, which conducted a study on the problem, had recommended flattening of the hill slopes of the Expressway to avoid future landslide for which the NHAI requires the additional land.
The NHAI official said that the State Government should expedite the process of handing over the additional land “since the rainy season has already approached and there are some stretches along the road which is prone to landslide”.
The implementing agency has also taken measures like constructing retaining walls to avoid landslide.
According to officials, the NHAI also needs additional land for the toll gate which has already been set up at Umling.
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 cost of Rs 536 crore.
The entire four-lane project has completed and now the work is going on for the Umsning Bye pass which is scheduled to be completed by June next year.
