SHILLONG, Feb 3: PWD (Roads) Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said the state will receive over Rs 200 crore as Central Road Fund (CRF) in the current financial year.
“I met several Union ministers, including Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in New Delhi. We talked about CRF and I am very sure we will be able to get more than Rs 200 crore of CRF for this financial year,” Tynsong, also the Deputy Chief Minister, told reporters on Thursday following his return from Delhi.
The state government had earlier requested the ministry to release the CRF funds and declare eight state highways as National Highways.
They include Umtyngar-Sohra-Mawlong-Ichamati-Bholaganj road (76.5 km), Nidanpur-Tikrikilla-Medhipara-Rongsai-Bajengdoba-Resubelpara-Damra road (120 km), Umsning-Mawhati-Jagiroad (79 km), Pasyih-Garampani road in Meghalaya up to Haflong in Assam (48 km), Weiloi-Mawsynram-Balat-Ranikor (75 km), Mairang-Nongkhlaw-Patharkhmah-Rani Godown road (80 km), Jowai-Nartiang-Kdiap-Khanduli road (60 km) and Tura-Dalu-Chokpot-Sibbari road (63 km).
Meanwhile, the state government is trying to come up with an alternate road to bypass the Umiam dam. Tynsong said the experts have done their exercise at the dam and based on their advice, restrictions on load were imposed.
“I have asked engineers to work out and explore if there is any other way through which we can bypass the dam. They are on the job,” the Minister said, adding that the government is also focusing on Western Bypass and if the project comes up, the load of vehicles would reduce significantly. Currently, the government is working out the process of land acquisition.
The statement comes at a time when important facilities such as the Sonapur bridge in East Jaintia Hills and the Photkroh bridge in South West Khasi Hills suffered back-to-back damages in past few months.
The Sonapur bridge, constructed by Border Roads Organisation, has developed cracks and Tynsong said the repairing work has started. The damage is not huge and the National Highways Authority of India has assured that the repairing work will be completed within 45 days, he said.
The Dwar-Ksuid bridge has been also lying damaged for over a year now. The work order for its re-construction is likely to be issued soon and the bridge will be completed within a year’s time. Currently, a temporary bailey bridge at the site is bearing the brunt of vehicles plying along the Shillong bypass.
PMGSY implementation
Meghalaya is the best performing state in the Northeast as regards the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Tynsong said Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh recently reviewed the implementation of PMGSY in Meghalaya and praised the state’s performance.
Under Phase I and 2, the target for Meghalaya was to complete 1,300 kilometers of road and it completed around 1,000 kilometers.
According to Tynsong, the state is now approaching phase 3 and the target is to upgrade 1,250 kilometers of existing roads by the end of the financial year.
“I have instructed my secretary and engineers to work day and night to ensure that the target is met,” he added.