Umiam-Ratacherra highway set to get four-lane upgrade

By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 13: A new four-lane highway is set to be added to Meghalaya’s road map with the central government sanctioning a project for upgradation of the Umiam-Ratacherra highway, including the Shillong Bypass, from two lanes to a four-lane highway.
The arterial two-lane highway caters to a large number of vehicles on a daily basis and breakdown of vehicles and accidents often lead to traffic jams that last for hours.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of PWD (Roads), Prestone Tynsong on Monday confirmed that National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is conducting a detailed survey of the proposed highway.
Tynsong said the state government has constituted separate committees for East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills  to oversee the land acquisition process for the proposed expansion of the highway.
The minister said the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner will be the chairperson of the committee in the district. The Revenue department will also be a part of the committees since land acquisition and compensation has to be done.
“Once the survey is over, we will start the land acquisition process,” Tynsong added.
The four-lane road project will be taken up under the central government’s Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Besides the Umiam-Ratacherra highway, the state is also set to get another four-lane highway from Rilbong till Upper Shillong as part of the Shillong-Dawki road project. Construction of the road is expected to be completed in two-three years.