SHILLONG: GR Infrastructure, which completed the Shillong Bypass a year ahead of its deadline, is now targeting to complete the 102-km Jowai-Ratacherra Road (NH 6) project before its deadline of May 2018.
Officials said the project is 62 per cent complete and the remaining will be finished by February next year.
Stating that they have got around 15,000 sqm of land in East Jaintia Hills, officials said the work is nearing completion.
The officials, however, rued that they are not getting the land for the toll plaza at Ialong in Jowai though necessary funds have been deposited with the West Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner a long time back.
It was also informed that the project would have two toll gates as per the guidelines of the government. According to the guidelines, there should be two toll gates in any road project that is above 100 km and toll rates should be decided after necessary calculations.
The road will also have amenities in two spots with restaurants, restrooms and washrooms. A lay-by for trucks will also be constructed.
When asked about the width of the road, officials said it would be 10 meters, wider than the Shillong Bypass at 7 meters.
Commuters forced to put up with dilapidated Umsning road until Dec
The Umsning bypass, which is an integral part of the Umiam-Jorabat Expressway, will not be commissioned before December though 90 per cent of the work along the stretch is complete.
The expressway project was scheduled to be commissioned in July.
Officials said the delay was because the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) gave its green signal to the bridge and the vehicular underpass on the new bypass only last month.
But till date there are no further directions from NHAI to undertake the work. However, the implementing agency has started work and the construction of the bridge will take at least three months before the bypass could be finally opened to the public.
Monsoon will further delay work, the officials said.
The Umiam-Jorabat Expressway is complete without the bypass. At present, the 5-6 km stretch of the existing Umsning Road is full of potholes and it is deteriorating by the day.
Meanwhile, officials also said a request pertaining to the overlay of the road has been sent to NHAI headquarters and the proposal is pending with the headquarters.
