State hopes to solve defence land hurdle for Dawki road

SHILLONG: The Shillong-Dawki road project is “on track” and the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways has assured the state that it would approach the highest level in the Ministry of Defence for land acquisition, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Friday.
Tynsong, who is also in charge of the Public Works Department, held a review meeting with officials of the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), forest and other departments.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Tynsong said the upcoming Shillong-Dawki, Tura-Dalu, Western Shillong Bypass and other road projects were reviewed.
For Shillong Dawki project, the Social Impact Assessment is on and the government has told authorities concerned to complete it by February 20 so that the different clauses can be notified under the Land Acquisition Act.
“I am happy that the project is on track but we have to do a lot of paper works,” Tynsong said.
He hoped that there should not be any land hurdle from the defence authorities after the assurance from the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
The 95-km road project is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 1,377.5 crore and the final DPR was submitted long back and even the JICA loan agreement was signed earlier last year.
For Shillong-Western Bypass, the NHIDCL has floated tender for engagement of consultant and for Tura-Dalu project, the West Garo Hills deputy commissioner would soon release compensation for land owners.