Umsning bypass to be ready in March

SHILLONG: The Umsning bypass, which has been delayed for years, will be completed in March, said an official source.
“Eighty percent of the work is complete and now we are working on the minor bridge and an underpass and structure work does take time,” an official in the implementing agency said.
Officials said the project was delayed “due to change of scope in the work” that was beyond the contract agreement.
According to the officials, once the minor bridge and underpass are complete, it will require 10-15 days more before the road is opened after necessary safety audits.
With the bypass ready, travel time between Guwahati and Shillong is expected to reduce.
The officials also informed that the overlay work for the existing Umsning road would take another 6-7 working days for completion.
The 62-km four-laning of NH 40 (Umiam to Jorabat) has been taken at a tender cost of Rs 536 crore in 2009-2010.
Earlier, the High Court of Meghalaya was assured that the overlay of the Umsning town road will be completed on December 25.
When asked about the delay, the officials said the overlay was “slightly delayed because sometimes materials were not available and it was difficult to get labourers due to holiday on December 24 and 25”.
“We will surely finish it by December 31,” official said.
The officials said they had completed the project in January 2016 and the work for the Umsning bypass was delayed due because land was handed over the agency late.