SHILLONG: The Rs 365-crore two-laning project for the Nongstoin-Wahkaji road is being delayed owing to land hurdles.
The NHIDCL status report says the proposal was taken up during the high-power committee meeting last December. The ministry then directed NHIDCL to obtain NOC from KHADC for acquiring land for 23.5km stretch.
The branch office was directed to obtain the same from the state government and to resolve the land acquisition for 10-15km.
The 43.06-km road project is under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme and will be constructed by M/S Chaitanya Projects.
Meanwhile, as far as Shillong-Dawki road is concerned, the status report said the final DPR was submitted last August and loan agreement under JICA funding is to be signed. The 95-km road is to be constructed at Rs 1,377 crore, including fund for land acquisition.
The road, which will take two and a half years to be completed after the issuing of tender, will include a 368-m long and 12.5-m wide bridge in Dawki.
Apart from providing better connectivity to Dawki, the road will help in improving trade with neighbouring Bangladesh. The project proposes to build a four-lane road from Umshyrpi to Mylliem and a two-lane road connecting Dawki and Tamabil.
Shillong-Dawki road
Meanwhile, the Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has approved the project to upgrade the road from Siatbakon to Umsyiem in East Khasi Hills.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, KHADC chief executive member PN Syiem said the committee has decided to upgrade the Shillong-Dawki road to four-lane for NH-44. “The EC has given its consent to the project,” the CEM said.
Saitsohpen land row
The executive committee is upset with the state government’s refusal to approve reconstruction or extension of houses at Saitsohpen.
Syiem said it is against the ruling of the High Court as the government did not approach the appropriate court for land allotment. He informed that the Sordar of the village and the district council approached the High Court when revenue officers declared that all British territories are government land.
In this way, the state government can claim people’s land and take it away without the land owner’s or the district council’s permission, Syiem said.