Local issues hit road projects in state; NHIDCL moves Gadkari

SHILLONG, Oct 23: The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) apprised Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday that it is facing multiple challenges in implementing various projects in Meghalaya, particularly the Shillong-Dawki Road project.
Gadkari reportedly asked the state government to resolve all issues immediately.
The work under package 5 of the Shillong-Dawki project has got stalled due to local issues.
Sources said M/s ASC Infratech Pvt. Ltd, which is implementing package 5, is being repeatedly asked by local pressure groups to produce the trading licence.
The package entails work along a 7.99 km stretch from Wahkdait till Tamabil on the Indo-Bangladesh international border.
The company has already applied for trading licence but the same is awaited due to inordinate delay by the issuing authority.
Alleging that labourers were threatened, the sources said the work under the package has stopped due to intimidations. They said the state government’s support towards resolving the problems has not been encouraging.
The company is also facing non-cooperation from some landowners. They are not allowing it to work due to local issues.
The previous contractor had cleared the ground and was building an 18-meter-wide road. Under the new contractor, the width of the road is 18 meters on one side and 24 meters on the other side.
The landowners were under the impression that only 18 metres would be acquired and therefore, they are not allowing the contractor to carry out the work.
The NHIDCL had set up pillars and was ready for a joint inspection, the sources said, adding that it is also ready to show the longitude and latitude to the stakeholders concerned.
“This is the working season for us. During the rainy season next year, it will be very difficult for us as it a Greenfield alignment and we are working in the acquired land only,” a company source said.
The company urged the government to immediately intervene and resolve all issues.
As the road extends till Tamabil, it cannot go to the extent of 150 meters of the international border as per convention. Talks are on between the BSF and the BGB to resolve the issue, the sources added.