Shillong-Dawki road project to be delayed

SHILLONG, March 21: The much-vaunted Shillong-Dawki road project is set to be stalled further as the implementing agency is yet to complete the re-tendering process following the exit of previous contractors.
Replying to a query by Congress legislator, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the stretch from Umshyrpi to Baniun, which comes under package-I of the Shillong-Dawki road project, is under re-tendering process.
Giving details of the construction work, Tynsong said that the physical progress of package-2 stands at 37.7% while package-4 is 30.10% — which makes them the highest in completion rate.
As far as package-3 is concerned, which is the bypass of Pynursla, the NHIDCL is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) after the land owners and traditional heads, who were earlier opposing the alignment, have now agreed to part away their land.
Additionally, even package-5 of the project is under re-tendering as the previous contractor had surrendered the work.
When asked about the reason for re-tendering of packages 1 and 5, the deputy chief minister said that the company which was allotted the work surrendered it halfway. Following this, he met the NHIDCL MD and Secretary of Ministry of Road and Transport Highways, and a decision for re-tender was taken. However, only one bidder showed interest in the project during the re-tendering and hence the process was restarted, Tynsong said, while adding that it is likely to be completed in the month of April.
It was also informed that the shifting of utilities would be completed by April 15.
The opposition, while taking strong note of traffic jams along the city roads, also asked the state government to expedite the construction of Western Bypass. On this, Tynsong told the House that the process of land acquisition has reached up to Section 19 and they are hopeful of handing over the land to the contractor in the next 2-3 months.