Umsning bypass to miss July deadline

SHILLONG: The Umiam-Jorabat four-lane project will not be able to meet the July deadline because of the delay in getting approvals for a bridge and a vehicular underpass.
The clearance from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) came 15-20 days back and with the rainy season already setting in, it will be difficult to complete the project within the deadline, sources said on condition of anonymity.
The bridge and the underpass are part of the Umsning bypass and the cost for construction of the two is approximately Rs 10 crore.
The sources, however, said asphalting of the road is 50 per cent complete and other stages of construction are nearly 70 per cent through.
The repairing of the existing Umsning road is yet to be taken up and NHAI so far has not given its approval for the overlay of the project.
The Rs 3.5-crore proposal for one-time maintenance of the road was given to the NHAI headquarters long back but it is still pending.
The condition of the road is deteriorating and with the recent downpour, it has become worse.