Forest clearance delays completion of Shillong-Tura highway

SHILLONG: The ongoing Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road though nearing its completion is still stuck in disputes over the land acquisition.
Official from the PWD informed that the project is 96 per cent complete but there is a stretch of about 500 metres which is yet to be completed since the department requires forest clearance for the particular stretch.
“We are pursuing the matter with the Forest department for early clearance,” officials said.
Asked about the deadline, the official informed that the road project is likely to be completed by December.
However, there are some more stretches where a few disputes pertaining to land acquisition still exist but the department is trying its best to solve the problems.
The work along the 264.30KM Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road at the cost of Rs 1494 crore started in February 2011 and was scheduled to be completed by March 2014.
The road, despite being delayed by a few years is almost complete and is providing much better accessibility between Shillong, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills region.
The road which starts from Upper Shillong connects with Jengjal, around 30KM from Tura.
The project is being executed by the Hyderabad-based company BSC-C&C JV.