PHED delays shifting of pipelines in 101 Area
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Dec 22: The four-lane road project from Rilbong to Upper Shillong, originally scheduled for completion by December 2025, is now facing significant delays primarily due to ongoing shifting of Public Health Engineering (PHE) pipelines in the 101 Area.
Sources indicate that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) cannot proceed with road laying until the PHE pipelines are fully relocated.
A major hurdle is that, even after the pipeline shifting is completed, constructing the Reinforced Earth (RE) walls will require a minimum of 45 days. Road laying can only commence once these walls are in place.
While blacktopping is expected to be completed on time in other stretches, the critical section from the 101 Area to Rilbong will see work begin only after the pipelines are shifted and the RE walls are built.
Reports highlight a lack of prior coordination between the PHE department and NHIDCL. In some sections, PHE has excavated portions of the road that had already been laid to facilitate pipeline relocation.
It is understood that the PHE department was instructed to shift the pipelines 4-5 months ago, but no action was taken at the time, leaving the contractor with no choice but to proceed with road laying.
Authorities have now stepped in to ensure better coordination. The government and NHIDCL have issued directives to expedite the pipeline shifting process.
