TURA, Feb 27: The oldest road in Garo Hills, which has been used by people to commute between the hills of Tura to the plains of Phulbari for more than a century and that was left in a state of neglect for years, has finally gotten a fresh leash of life.
The construction of a double-lane road of the 60-km-long Rongram to Phulbari route has begun with the foundation stone being laid by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at Rongram town, 15 kms from Tura, on Saturday.
The foundation for the Rs 139,02,65,000-crore road project was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and three legislators from the constituencies where the road passes through, viz. Power Minister James Sangma, North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma and Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin.
Stating that the MDA Government in the state has accorded the highest priority to the building of road infrastructure, the chief minister informed that during the last three years, an investment of whopping 1,800 crore has been coughed up solely for road construction in Garo Hills.
“We are not only initiating new projects but also taking up projects abandoned way back in 2001 and 2009 by previous governments, and this is being done by mobilising additional funds from the state itself. After all, it is for the benefit of the people,” Conrad said.
It may be mentioned that the road starts from 85th km of NH-51 at Rongram Bazar, passing along the hilly terrain and meeting the AMPT road at Phulbari town. The road falls under the state highway road category, connecting Tura and Phulbari, the two important towns of West Garo Hills.
The road is of immense importance by way of economic activity as it will cover over 40 villages, running through areas with high agriculture produce, particularly pineapples, pepper and arecanut produce. The expansion of the road will impact the livelihood of the people apart from easing their travel.
“My late father used to tell me about this road which has been neglected for years. He had the desire to improve and upgrade this road from his time and I am happy that our government has been able to initiate the upgradation of this road, fulfilling his dream and the dream of people residing in the 40 villages that this road will impact,” the chief minister said.
Giving the thumbs up to his deputy, Conrad said there has been tremendous progress made in the PMGSY road construction across the rural sector of the state within the last three years.
“Prior to 2018, there was poor performance of PMGSY road construction. However, during the current dispensation, there has been a tremendous achievement. Currently, road construction, amounting to Rs 2,800 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), is under way in the entire state,” said the chief minister, while beseeching the deputy commissioners and the PWD officials to keep a continuous tab on the progress of the work.
With elections to the GHADC few weeks away, the deputy chief minister did not mince his words when it came to taking a jibe at the previous government led by Mukul Sangma.
“I checked the records prior to 2018 from the office. During the tenure from 2013-2018 the then government pumped in only 700 crore for the road sector. Today, in three years’ time, we have given 1,800 crore for the road sector just in the Garo Hills alone. See the difference,” Tynsong said.
He said that the agenda of the government is to ensure that people from both the hills and the plains benefit.
“Because this project is so important for the people, the chief minister proposed that we should spend it from the State Plan and Rs 139 crore is no joke. But we did it to ensure the people from the hill areas and the plain belts of Garo Hills improve their livelihoods,” the deputy chief minister said.
Dadenggre MLA James Sangma claimed that the area was left neglected by the previous regime.
“From 2008, as the MLA, I tried to pursue the matter for upgradation of the road. I even raised the issue in the Assembly repeatedly. However, my plea was unheard and turned down. It is because of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma that our long-pending demand for this road was finally accorded sanction,” said James.