SHILLONG: Increasing economic activities along the existing pavement of Mawphlang-Balat (MB) road led to the deplorable condition of the road, informed PWD Minister Prestone Tynsong in the state Assembly on Wednesday.
In his reply to the motion moved by Independent MLA, SK Sunn on the pathetic condition of Mawphlang-Balat road, Tynsong said roads developed signs of distress with the transportation of coal and limestone by heavily loaded trucks from the mining areas to the different outlets even though the road could withstand only 9 MT weight.
“Furthermore, due to the heavy rainfall that area experiences in every Monsoon, the pavement gets further deteriorated very fast posing numerous problems for maintenance,” he said.
He added that the inadequacy of maintenance funds restricted the department from taking up periodical repair of the pavement which is vital to its longevity and the riding quality.
Speaking about the schemes which have been sanctioned for the last 10 years, he said for the year 2011-2012, there was repairing of potholes, PR, retaining wall, eroded side berms etc., amounting to Rs 84.80 lakhs under ASIDE scheme for a length of 4.50 km for metalling and black-topping and improvement works for a length of 12.71 km and the work is completed.
Another scheme is strengthening and improvement of riding quality of Mawphlang-Balat road under SPA which was completed in the year 2015 and he stated the present condition of the road was good.
“However, at some stretches due to heavy traffic and being a single road, the heavy vehicles have to maneuver to the side berms due to the narrowness of the road thus leading to wear and tear of the pavement edges,” Tynsong said.
The annual mending of potholes for the remaining length of 6.50 km has been taken up under the Annual Maintenance fund and the work is in progress, the Minister said.
Tynsong added that an estimate for improvement of riding quality of Mawphlang-Balat road (0-20th ) km has been submitted to the government under general state plan and sanction is awaited.
He stated that the scheme “Mawngap-Mawphlang-Laitmawsiang-Mawkyrwat-Ranngthong-Nongnah-Dirang-Khatphra (Ranikor)” (near Bangladesh Border) with a length of 96 km in which a portion of the road from Mawphlang to Umlangmar falls has been included in the list of proposal by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to be implemented by NHIDCL under National Highway Scheme.
He added that consultancy services for preparation of DPR had been invited by NHIDCL headquarter, New Delhi and work was yet to be allotted.
Speaking about the huge gap between fund requirement and the availability of fund, Tynsong said the government is taking all efforts to maintain, restore and rehabilitate this road in the interest of the people of the state in general.
Sunn pointed to the accidents that take place along the MB road. Similarly, Congress MLA from Mawsynram, HM Shangpliang recalled an accident that took place at Riat Mawniuh in which a bike skidded off the road plunging the riders to a 150 ft deep gorge.
The MB road provides connectivity to four constituencies, Mawphlang, Mawkyrwat, Mawsynram and Ranikor. Sunn said, “The necessity to convert this single lane road into a 2 laning has been totally ignored.”
After Tynsong gave the reply, Shangpliang stood up to point out the Trongpleng-Balat, Balat –Hatmawdon which is in bad condition.
Tynsong said he has taken note of the request seriously and informed the government intends to provide all weather road as well.