SHILLONG: The deplorable condition of the Mawphlang-Balat (MB) road is owing to the “increased economic activities and insufficient funds”, PWD Minister Prestone Tynsong said in the Assembly on Wednesday.
In his reply to the motion moved by Independent MLA SK Sunn on the dilapidated road, Tynsong said the road started deteriorating with the transportation of coal and limestone by heavy trucks from the mining areas to different outlets as the road can cater to a loading capacity of 9 MT.
“Further, due to heavy rainfall the road pavement deteriorates very fast posing numerous problems for maintenance,” he added.
Inadequate funds for maintenance also restrict the department to take up periodical renewal of the pavement that is vital to its longevity.
Speaking about the schemes which were sanctioned in the last 10 years, the minister said for 2011-2012, there was repairing of potholes, PR, retaining wall and eroded side berms, among others, amounting to Rs 84.80 lakh 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 has been completed.
Another scheme is strengthening and improvement of riding quality of Mawphlang-Balat road under SPA, which was completed in 2015. He stated that the present condition of the road is good.
“However, at some stretches due to heavy traffic and being a single road, the heavy vehicles have to maneuver to the side berms because of the narrow road thus leading to wear and tear of the pavement edges,” Tynsong said.
The annual repair to mend 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 informed the House.
Tynsong also maintained that an estimate for “improvement of riding quality of Mawphlang-Balat road (0-20th) km has been submitted to the government under the 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 has been invited by NHIDCL Head quarter, New Delhi and work is 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.
