By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 20: High costs have pushed the state government’s plans to upgrade the Umiam-Shillong Road to four lanes to the back seat even as the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), currently maintaining the road, is strengthening it by expanding sections wherever feasible.
While the journey from Khanapara to Umiam takes a maximum of one and a half hours, the problem for commuters starts as soon as they enter the narrow and congested Umiam-Shillong Road.
Sources from the Public Works Department said along this 16-km stretch, there is a feasibility of expanding the road from 7 meters to 10 meters along a section measuring 8 km. The sources said this is the reason why the NHIDCL wants to strengthen the road.
It was learnt that two proposals were submitted to the NHIDCL for a four-lane road along the stretch but they were rejected as the project cost mentioned in both was more than ₹1,500 crore.
The state government is apparently trying hard to have the four-lane road. It remains to be seen how the government can pressure the NHIDCL.
If a consensus is reached to expand the existing road, it will take about 2-3 months to prepare the detailed project report.
The condition of the road has deteriorated along stretches.
Officials said the NHIDCL was planning to repair the road within October but prolonged monsoon delayed the plans and now with Diwali celebrations, the work is expected to be taken up in the next few days.
The government is pushing for the four-lane road to ease congestion and reduce travel time but the estimated cost appears to be an obstacle to the project.
