SHILLONG: Survey for additional land required to flatten the slopes of hillocks cut along the landslide prone Guwahati Shillong Expressway is currently underway.
Officials informed that survey for acquiring additional land is almost completed and the Ri-Bhoi district administration has already initiated the process of land acquisition for the additional project.
It is learnt that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sought around 3.5 hectares of land in 15 locations to flatten the slopes along the Expressway.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, which had conducted a study on the perennial problem of landslides along the Guwahati-Shillong highway, had recommended flattening of the hill slopes throughout the entire stretch of the Expressway to avoid future landslides.
The Guwahati-Shillong Expressway is prone to landslides and major incidents of landslides have been reported along the highway in which some people lost their lives.
As the rainy season has approached, temporary measures such as construction of retaining walls have been undertaken along the road to avoid landslides.
Meanwhile, 30 per cent of the work along the Umsning Bypass has been completed and the work has now slowed down due to the ongoing rainy season.
Once the bypass is completed, the Umiam-Jorabat Expressway project would finally see its completion. The 5.6 km Umsning bypass is scheduled to be completed in June next year.
