By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 4: The ongoing four-lane work at a small stretch of the 2-3 km of land under the much-vaunted Shillong-Dawki road project is facing a hurdle as the army authorities are allegedly delaying the permission for construction of the road citing security issues.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) sources have revealed that an MoU was signed with HQ 101 Area to construct a wall beyond the existing one so that the area could be used for expansion of the road.
It may be mentioned that NHIDCL has already acquired the land in the area for the construction of the proposed four-lane road.
According to sources, though army authorities have given the permission for building the new wall they are reportedly delaying the permission for construction of the new wall.
It is learnt that the NHIDCL will take up the matter of army authorities not cooperating with the corporation in a meeting with the state government scheduled for later this week. “The contractor is unable to take up the work. It is affecting work in this stretch,” sources said.
Meanwhile, they said that as rainy season is beckoning the state, the focus of NHIDCL is now on structural works of the project such as drain work.
Meanwhile, as far as package II of the project is concerned, the contractor is reportedly mobilising machinery and manpower albeit the hill cutting work has begun already.
It may be mentioned that Package 1 of the Shillong-Dawki Road project includes two bypasses for which work is going on simultaneously. The Package 1 work, which is a four-lane project, is going on smoothly.
One of the bypasses is coming up in the 3rd Mile area covering a length of 1.9 km. The second bypass will come up in 8th Mile and its length will be 2.9 km.
