SHILLONG: The expansion and improvement of the arterial NH-44 from Jowai to Ratacherra is getting delayed because of in controversies related to the problem of land acquisition
Sources from Nation Highway Authority of India (NHAI) informed that the implementing agency which requires 16 hectares of land has not received even one piece of land for constructing the toll plaza at Ialong.
Sources said that the NHAI last year itself handed over 80 per cent of the total land compensation with the District Administration of West Jaintia Hills but the compensation had not been distributed to the people as of now.
According to sources, the entire road project is getting stuck due to the inability of the District Administration to hand over the land to NHAI and the authority is seeking cooperation from the District Administration in this regard.
“Right now, we have worked only in 60 kilometers of the road whereas we have to work in 40 kilometers more but we need for it,” sources said.
It was informed that the toll plaza was supposed to be constructed somewhere else but the location was shifted to Ialong due to the request of the District Administration.
Sources also clarified that the project was for widening and improving the road and not for constructing a totally new road even as it was informed that the width of the road was 5.5 metres earlier but now the road width has been increased to 9.5 and 10 metres.
In some stretches, roads are being widened to 7-8 metres, officials said, adding that now work is being done only in pieces due to unavailability of land.
It was also informed that there would be one more overlay for the entire road when widening and improvement work was fully completed
In addition, the implementing agency is still finding it very tough to work in Sonapur area since it is an eco-sensitive zone.
The expansion work of the arterial NH-44 has been approved under Phase-III of the National Highway Development Programme and the road will be a boon not only for Meghalaya but also for other neighbouring states, including Assam and Mizoram.
The Jowai-Ratacherra road has over the years posed numerous difficulties to commuters who have had to brave the dilapidated stretch. Hence, its repair will be a welcome change.