SHILLONG, Dec 12: Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem, has accentuated the need for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ameliorate the four-lane Guwahati-Shillong Expressway.
Stating that plying on the highway during monsoon can be perilous due to frequent landslides, the legislator has called for slope stabilisation by NHAI.
In addition, he said that the issues of drainage in Nongpoh and Byrnihat areas must also be addressed at the earliest by the NHAI.
The four-lane highway was, at one point of time, deemed the most prestigious asset of the state. However, the quality of the highway has gone to the dogs with time due to the plying of overladen vehicles.
The four-lane expressway was commissioned only 5-6 years ago but within a short span of time, many stretches of the road have been damaged while abrupt landslides along the highways during monsoon continue to be a major problem.
Albeit the restoration for the project has started, the progress is sluggish.
Now with the IL&FS getting the green light to sell Jorabat-Shillong Expressway Limited (JSEL) to Sekura Road Limited (SRL), the new firm will look after the maintenance work of the expressway.
Apart from the expressway, the Shillong Bypass is another asset which has been subjected to deterioration due to overladen vehicles.
Meanwhile, an official at the NHAI on Saturday informed that first and second safety auditing party has already recommended that the Dwar Ksuid Bridge needs to be demolished and a new bridge has to be constructed in its place. The NHAI is, however, awaiting a final report from third party before taking the final call on the matter.
It may be mentioned that NHAI had, few days back, also started the construction of a bailey bridge which is expected to be completed in a month’s time.
