Jowai-Ratacherra two-lane project to be delayed

SHILLONG: The Jowai-Ratacherra two-lane project is stuck in land hurdles and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is finding it difficult to complete work within the February 2018 deadline.
Sources in NHAI said work on 71 km out of the 102 km has been completed but it is working only on its ‘right of way’ which was made available to the implementing agency.
The state government has failed to hand over land to NHAI and the latter will flag the difficulties during a meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee on Tuesday.
The sources said last year NHAI had deposited Rs 162 crore for land acquisition of up to 16 hectare but till date, not even a single piece of land has been handed over to it.
It was informed that the process pertaining to land acquisition in both East and West Jaintia Hills is stuck in Section 19 of the Land Acquisition Act that deals with identification of land and compensation.
Besides, NHAI is also having problems to build toll gate number 1 in Ialong since the land owners are asking for market rate of the land.
The expansion work of the arterial NH-6 was 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 road, being built at a cost of Rs 630 crore, will be a welcome change for commuters who for years have to endure the dilapidated stretch. However, officials said the project will be delayed.