Travel time between Shillong & Baghmara to shorten

TURA, Dec 9: After decades of nerve-racking and back-breaking experience for travellers who journey from the remote South Garo Hills district of Baghmara to Shillong through miles of potholes and eroded tarmac, this hazardous journey could soon be a thing of the past.
The first phase of the road construction project of the Baghmara-Maheskola-Ranikor began on Wednesday in South Garo Hills with earthmovers and other heavy machinery being deployed for the work on a 35-km stretch from the Panda reserve to Kanai portion. Panda is 25 kilometres from district headquarters Baghmara.
“This is going to be a game-changing project which will immensely benefit the people, particularly those living on the border region and the remote areas. On completion of the project, the travel time to Shillong will be in a matter of just 4-5 hours from Baghmara,” an optimistic Siju-Rongara MLA, Rakkam A Sangma, said while speaking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
Although the entire project of 132-km all-weather road begins from Baghmara and passes through the Panda and Kanai in South Garo Hills district before making its way through Nongjri and Ranikor in South West Khasi Hills district, it is the Phase 2 of the project (Panda-Kanai) that has been initiated from the Garo Hills side.
) “There are some issues pertaining to permission for land clearance of forest areas between Baghmara to Panda and these are being sorted out. Work will begin on this stretch too,” added Sangma.
The Garo Hills portion of the approximately Rs 1200 crore road project stretches for 82 kilometres.
From the Khasi Hills side, work on the Nongjri to Ranikor is under way for several months now.
The Siju-Rongara MLA says the road, once completed, will be a lifeline for all inhabitants of the region.
“So many villages along the international border and in the remote areas will finally get connected to the state through this highway. It will also boost tourism in South Garo Hills because the highway passes nearby Balpakram National Park, which will be a boon for tourists keen to visit this scenic area,” said Sangma.
For generations, people were compelled to trek and travel on roads that were so badly maintained. Lack of funding and investment on infrastructure had crippled the region to such an extent that even till date, villagers living alongside the international border depend upon trade and seek medical treatment from neighbouring Bangladesh.
That could be a thing of the past and a new highway could be the lifesaver for generations to come.