SHILLONG, Feb 8: The Meghalaya government seems to have abandoned a small stretch of road in Lachumiere, originally planned as part of the Shillong Smart City project. The construction of the stretch of road in question had begun a few years ago and progressed at a sluggish pace before coming to an indefinite halt.
Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar had previously announced that the project was deemed unfeasible, leading to its cancellation despite significant work already being carried out.
He, however, later assured that fresh estimates would be prepared under the State Plan to resurface major roads in Shillong to align them with smart road standards.
With months having passed since the assurance, the abandoned stretch remains neglected, making vehicular movement nearly impossible.
At present, only two-wheelers can navigate the incomplete road, causing severe inconvenience to residents and daily commuters.
Despite multiple announcements, the government appears in no hurry to either revive or officially scrap the project, leaving its fate uncertain.
The stalled work has not only created mobility issues but also raised concerns about wasted public funds and unfulfilled promises under the Smart City initiative.
The state government had initially planned to construct six kilometers of Smart City roads in Shillong. However, with the first stretch in Lachumiere still unfinished, doubts have emerged about the feasibility of the entire project.
Beyond road construction, the Smart City plan also included the renovation of key junctions in Shillong. Yet, only the Fire Brigade junction has seen any progress, and even there, the high-mast lighting system remains non-functional.
With the Shillong Smart City project facing repeated delays and incomplete execution, residents are growing increasingly frustrated and demanding greater accountability and timely completion of promised infrastructure improvements.
