Shillong MP lists state’s road woes, writes to Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Congress MP from Shillong Vincent H Pala on Monday criticised Union ministers for frequenting the hill state but not paying heed to major problems of the region and the common people there.
Pala, who met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, said the bridge on the Umiam river has developed cracks and may collapse any time.
“If this major bridge caves in, it will endanger hundreds of lives and snap the state capital from the rest of the country,” the Shillong MP told Gadkari.
Similarly, the Umsning section of the Guwahati-Shillong Highway is in a dilapidated condition and needs immediate repair and restoration, Pala told Gadkari.
The MP demanded immediate implementation of the proposed bypass at Umsning.
The road from Mawlai to the Umiam junction has potholes in many places which have turned threatening due to continuous rain.
“After Umiam, the four-lane road is uneven at many places. The existing 5-km Umsning road, which is full of potholes, does pose a risk,” Pala said in a letter to Gadkari.
The National Highway Authority of India recently told the Joint Action Committee of the Dorbar Shnong Umsning that the existing road would be “fully” blacktopped in October.
Pala demanded that the highway connecting Mawlai and Jowai should be widened.
The MP pointed out that there was widespread public criticism of the Centre during the visits of ministers to the state and yet “no action is being taken on such serious issues”.
“I am sorry to inform you that no appropriate action has been taken on such issues till date,” Pala said in the letter.