High-speed corridor project
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 18: The state government has decided to take action against some landowners found to have intentionally constructed temporary structures along the proposed alignment of a high-speed corridor to secure higher compensation.
The high-speed corridor will connect Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in southern Assam.
Speaking at the 11th Inception Day celebration of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) here on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said all the Deputy Commissioners concerned have been instructed not to allow temporary construction along the proposed alignment of the highway corridor.
He rued the tendency of some people to construct temporary structures for more compensation whenever a new road project is proposed.
Admitting that the NHIDCL is facing many challenges in Meghalaya due to a difficult terrain and limited working season, he said that a major portion of the road would pass through the Jaintia Hills, where discussions have been held with NGOs and headmen to ensure that there are no obstructions in the execution of the project.
“We told them that it is your project and if you have any problem, come to us for a solution across the table, not on the road,” he said.
Dhar said people in some places approached him and the DC’s office to inquire about the proposed alignment as soon as they came to know about the proposed high-speed corridor project. “They do this to claim more compensation,” he said.
The Meghalaya government has initiated the land acquisition process for the construction of the Rs 22,864-crore Mawlyngkhung-Panchgram corridor, which is expected to reduce the travel time between Guwahati and Silchar by half.
Dhar drew the attention of the NHIDCL to many projects that are getting delayed because the Centre is allowing the implementing agencies to quote very low rates.
“When tenders are floated, some firms quote 35-40% below the standard rate. They abandon the work after bagging the contract,” he said, pointing out that almost all packages of the Shillong-Dawki Road project were re-tendered because of underquoting.
Referring to an instance when a company quoted 48% below the standard rate, Dhar said that this indicates an erroneous Schedule of Rates, and even engineers and technicians commit errors while preparing the DPR.
Patricia Mukhim, the Editor of The Shillong Times and the guest of honour at the event, questioned the time and cost overrun in every single road project being implemented in Meghalaya.
“When I travel to Pynursla, I wonder when this road will be completed,” she said, stressing the need to be transparent in the land acquisition process.
She observed that as a road passes through different villages, it is important to talk to the people and not just the headman about the advantages and progress which will come with the execution of the project.
Earlier, Biju Patir, the Executive Director (P) of the NHIDCL, said that 19 projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore have been sanctioned in Meghalaya. He assured the people that NHIDCL would leave no stone unturned in transforming the road sector of the state.