By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 29: The state government has accorded administrative approval and sanctioned Rs 49.53 crore for the first phase of the much-anticipated 20-km Nongpoh to Umden road project.
Informing this on Friday, Nongpoh legislator Mayralborn Syiem said, “For the first part of the Nongpoh-Umden project, the state government has accorded administrative approval and sanctioned Rs 49.53 crore.”
He further revealed that the second phase, covering the Umden to Sonapur stretch of 38.6 kilometres, was sanctioned in October 2024 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) III, with an allocated amount of Rs 47.20 crore.
“The tender will also be called by the first week of December and the project will be awarded to the firm or contractor who clears all the criteria,” Syiem said.
The MLA shared that tenders for the first phase, funded by the State scheme, will likely be floated in the first or second week of December, with work allocation to follow shortly thereafter.
Expressing optimism that the project would proceed without delays and be completed within the stipulated timeline, Syiem said he does not foresee any difficulties regarding land acquisition or other issues, as the people of the area are eagerly awaiting the construction of this road.
He then urged the traditional leaders to support the smooth execution of the project.
Addressing the delay in the road’s commencement, Syiem explained that the project, with a total estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, had to be divided into two phases due to financial constraints.
Whilst the first phase is being funded through the State scheme, the second phase is under the central PMGSY initiative.
The MLA attributed further delays to the 2024 parliamentary elections and budgetary challenges.
It may be mentioned that the demand for the road gained momentum after Bindas Syiem, a woman from Ri-Bhoi district, staged a solo indefinite strike, which garnered widespread support from individuals and organisations.