Shillong-Dawki road project deadline to be revised

SHILLONG, June 22: The Shillong-Dawki road upgradation project deadline will be revised, an official of the NHIDCL said on Wednesday.
December this year was the deadline for the completion of all packages of the road but given the pace at which the work is being undertaken, it looks highly unlikely that the project can be completed by then.
The official said the re-tendering process for the four-lane portion of the road from Rilbong to Upper Shillong is on.
“We are going for re-tendering and it will take us 45-60 days to complete the entire process. Based on it, the new contractor will re-start the work,” the NHIDCL official said, adding defence authorities have already handed over land for the expansion of the road in the area.
The right of way available in this stretch is 99.48%. Initially, the work on this stretch was being implemented by M/S SS Infrazone Pvt. Ltd but the company recently abandoned the work.
The 11.60 km road was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 351.12 crore but the awarded cost was Rs 91.26 crore.
The physical progress of the project’s packages is not even 20%, barring package II which has a 28% physical progress. Earlier, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, had expressed concern over the delay in the completion of the project.
The 71 km-long existing road will be converted into a four-lane highway from Umshyrpi Bridge to Baniun at 7th Mile and two lanes thereafter till Dawki at an estimated cost of Rs 1,251 crore.
The project also includes construction of a new bridge across Umngot river at Dawki.