SHILLONG, Nov 5: Roads make crucial contribution to economic development and growth, and are of vital importance for development of any state but the story is opposite in Meghalaya where the condition of the national highways is deteriorating with each passing day — whether one visits Shillong, Jowai or Sohra, bad roads are what they face much against the image which the government seems to be building about Meghalaya.
A tourist’s challenge with roads in the state would start from Umiam till Mawiong — one of the most important and busiest stretches in Meghalaya and whose condition has of late deteriorated.
According to an official of the PWD, the aforementioned road road is under the NHIDCL’s jurisdiction and repair work has been initiated.
On the other hand, a person visiting Jaintia Hills would have to bear with a harrowing time as they journey from Mawryngkneng till Jowai, where the road is horrible.
However, the PWD is likely to float the tender for the road within this week, the official said.
Apart from these two roads, the condition of the road in Upper Shillong which connects Shillong to many important locations such as Dawki, Sohra and even West Khasi Hills is bad.
Even this crucial road is under NHIDCL, and while the work for Shillong-Dawki project including a four-lane road till Upper Shillong was halted, people are waiting anxiously for the road construction to be completed at the earliest.
The NHIDCL recently invited tenders for the work of improvement/widening to two-lane with paved shoulders of NH-40 between Shillong to Dawki road up to Bangladesh international border including Dawki bridge and improvement/widening to four-lane with paved shoulders of NH-44 with a total length of 11.600 km.
The estimated cost of the 11-km road is Rs 160.48 crore.
It may be mentioned that the entire Shillong-Dawki project is already running much behind schedule and the progress of the project has been tardy so far.
On the other hand, the roads which are maintained by NHIDCL like the Umiam-Jorabat expressway and Shillong Bypass are in a much better condition with them experiencing regular maintenance.
