SHILLONG: Three major road projects in the Khasi Hills region are being delayed because the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is yet to give no-objection certificates.
As per the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDC), two-laning of the road from Nongstoin to Wahkaji, which is around 61.57 km, is yet to receive the Council’s consent on land acquisition. Without KHADC’s go-ahead, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department cannot initiate land acquisition.
Besides, the contract agreement could not be signed due to non-availability of NOC from the District Council. The letter of allotment was withdrawn on August 4 and tenders are being re-invited.
Another project that is being delayed is upgrading of Wahkaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor (around 30 km) and Domiasiat-Mawthabah road (5 km) to double lanes. According to the NHIDC status report, M/s Chaitanya Projects Consulting Pvt Ltd will implement the project, the final DPR for which has been submitted to the PWD and also received at the branch office.
But the pending NOC from KHADC is delaying land acquisition and the issue has been taken up with the State Government.
The third project that requires the consent of KHADC is the Rs 258.37-crore project of two-laning with paved shoulder of Western Bypass of Shillong from 60.9 km to 87.850 km of NH-40.
The NHIDC status report said land acquisition for the first 10km has been prepared by the West Khasi Hills DC, but the Revenue and Disaster Management Department could not be notified in absence of KHADC’s consent.
The remaining stretch has to be realigned and land acquisition will be initiated only after finalisation of DPR.
When contacted, KHADC CEM P.N Syiem said the council would immediately issue the NOC for the project as soon as an official communiqué is received from respective deputy commissioners. He, however, maintained that KHADC would not give its consent for the two-laning of the 68-km Nongstoin-Domiasiat-Mawthabah road owing to “strong opposition”.
The Council, however, has issued NOC for improvement and two-laning of the earthen shoulder of Ranikor-Maheshkhola-Mahadeo-Rongra-Baghmara Road, Syiem said. The 129-km project is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 695 crore.
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council has given NOC for the Maheshkola-Baghmara portion and land acquisition is in progress and KHADC has given its nod to the Ranikor-Maheshkola stretch. But the Government requires forest clearance from 112.05km to 129.385km of the project.
