Govt eyes completion of 10 ‘big’ projects by 2022-end

SHILLONG, Dec 14: The state government is eyeing to complete as many as 10 road projects under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP), which are funded by the World Bank, by December 2022.
“We have 10 big important projects, five in Garo Hills and the other five in Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The progress is good and I am sure towards the end of 2022 we will be able to complete all of the big projects in the state,” said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge PWD (roads) who held a review meeting of the projects on Tuesday.
These 10 projects include upgrade and improvement of Bajengdoba-Resu-Mendipathar-Damra road, Agia Medhipara Phulbari Tura road, Dalu-Baghmara Road, Diengpasoh road, Laitkor-Pomlakrai-Laitlyngkot road, Umling-Patharkhmah road, Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre road, Pasyih to Garampani road, Mawmaram-Mawlendep road, Rongram-Rongrenggre Darugre road, besides construction of ridge over Umngot river, Jongksha-Kharang-Dienglieng road, construction of bridge over Damring river at Chidaret connecting Thapa Bazar.
The PWD minister informed that the total cost of the project comes to Rs 554.67 crore and the total length of the road is 262.4 kilometers.
“Most of the projects started in the year 2020 and the progress of work is very satisfactory. I am sure by 2022 December we will be able to complete all these projects,” he added.
Talking about the challenges in executing the projects without hiccups, Tynsong said, “The challenges they had is the environmental clearance, pollution control board clearances, even forest clearances. So these were the small issues which we discussed and the PWD will attend to this and take care (of them)”.
“Next week I will call for a meeting with the concerned department to speed up the issuance NOC and clearances and whatever that is required,” he said.
Informing that few more projects are in the pipeline and the detailed project report is in the final stage, he said, “We have one more project in Ri-Bhoi, we call it Umsning-Jagi road via Mawhati; now the DPR is almost completed and the next is Nongpoh-Umden and in West Khasi Hills we have Nongstoin-Maweit road”.
“Hopefully, by January we will be able to call a tender, allotment of work will be done and again we will start the work for these projects,” he added.