Minister blames Centre for delay in ISBT project

SHILLONG: Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Thursday blamed the delay in construction of the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Mawiong on the Centre while exuding confidence it would be completed if funds are released.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the ISBT was nearing completion.
He, however, admitted that the Centre is in the process of releasing funds.
“If the funds come, we will immediately finish the project… the delay is from the Centre’s side, not from our side,” he said.
Stating that the department wants to complete the project at the earliest, he informed that major works are already done and only electrical and water fittings remain. “The progress of the project is around 80-90 per cent”, he said.
The project was scheduled to be completed in December last year after years of delay. Now, the project is expected to be completed only in March.
The ISBT is a project of the NEC and the Transport department and is being executed by the state PWD.
It is also learnt, however, that land for the project at the approach road is not yet available.
The project is being executed at an estimated cost of Rs 48 crore.
The project has been delayed by years and multiple deadlines have been missed since it was sanctioned in 2013.
It is aimed at decongesting the overcrowded parking lots in Shillong. The new terminus will accommodate 150-200 buses.
Once completed, it will be the second ISBT in the state after the one at Tura, which was inaugurated recently.