Completion of 12 road projects hangs fire

SHILLONG, Dec 23: As many as 12 road projects in Meghalaya, which were assigned to the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) three years ago, are yet to see the light of day.
The NHIDCL was tasked with the construction of roads covering a length of 273 km across the state for Rs 1,559 crore. However, most of these projects have either missed their deadlines or are yet to even reach halfway on the progress front.
The only project, which is showing a physical progress of 73 per cent, is the package one of the two-laning of Ranikor-Nonghyllam-Maheshkola Baghmara road while package five of the improvement/widening to two-lane with earthen shoulder of Ranikor-Maheshkhola- Baghmara road section from Rongara to Panda has seen about 64 per cent of completion.
The widening to two-lane with geometric improvement of Tura-Dalu Road, which was awarded in 2018, has seen a completion of 49 per cent till date.
The all-important Shillong-Dawki road project is also far from completion even though different packages were awarded in 2020.
The physical progress of package two of Shillong-Dawki road project is mere 34 per cent while the physical progress of package four is mere 21 per cent.
Contracts for package 1 and 5 of Shillong-Dawki road project were foreclosed and bids will be re-invited for them.