SHILLONG: The state has received several road projects worth Rs 5,361 crore in the last few years but as many as 11 of these, including the much-hyped Shillong-Dawki road, are yet to begin.
The status report of the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) shows the 11 pending projects include both state and national highways.
Altogether 823 km of roads are supposed to be constructed and all the projects are in different stages of paper work, the report states.
The list includes improvement of NH-40 between Shillong and Dawki and construction of Dawki bridge under JICA funding.
The final DPR for the 71.2-km road, to be built at a cost of Rs 1,330 crore, was submitted in August this year and modification in the cost is being done.
The consultant, M/s Transys Consulting Pvt. Ltd, has requested for expression of time limit (EoT) and it is being considered by NHIDCL.
Another project for which paperwork is being done is the road from Assam/Meghalaya border to Dalu via Baghmara under JICA funding.
The 195-km road will be taken up at Rs 1,500 crore by M/s Stanley Consultant Pvt Ltd. The contract agreement was signed in April last year and the DPR is being prepared.
The NHIDCL report states that the consultant failed to submit the DPR by August 31 as per its commitment and grant of EoT is being considered.
Another project which has not made much progress is the two-laning of Western Bypass of Shillong from 60.9km to 87.8 km of NH-40.
The 42.405-km road will be widened at a cost of Rs 258.37 crore.
The status report adds that the land acquisition estimate for the first the 10 km has been prepared by the West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner but the Revenue and Disaster Management Department could not notify due to non-receipt of consent from the Khasi Hill Autonomous District Council.
The remaining stretch has to be realigned and land acquisition will be initiated only after the final DPR. The hunt for a consultant is on. Then there is upgradation of the state road between Nongstoin and Wahkaji to two-lane.
The report says the bid for civil work was invited with a deadline of November 15 and minutes of high-powered committee meeting is awaited from the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways.
The approval of modified cost estimate sent to the ministry and the administrative approval are awaited. The proposal for signing of a tripartite agreement by NHIDCL, PWD Meghalaya and the consultant is also under process.
