By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 20: Amid the land acquisition process for the high-speed corridor in Meghalaya connecting Panchgram near Silchar in Assam, some residents of Nongrah village in Ri-Bhoi have allegedly constructed temporary structures in an attempt to secure higher compensation.
These structures have come up despite notices issued long ago, directing people to refrain from taking up construction activities along the alignment of the proposed highway. Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said the administration is aware of the issue. He said the administration had issued clear notices earlier stating that any new construction in the area without prior permission from the administration would not be considered for compensation.
“We have already conducted a joint measurement survey and have a list of structures that existed traditionally,” he said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last year approved the proposal for the development, maintenance, and management of a four-lane, greenfield, access-controlled high-speed corridor along National Highway-6. The 166.8-km stretch will run from Mawlyngkhung village in Ri-Bhoi district to Panchgram under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, at a total capital cost of ₹22,864 crore.
Of the total project length, 144.8 km lies in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam. The project is expected to significantly improve traffic movement between Guwahati and Silchar.
Baranwal said land acquisition is largely on track, except in a few areas where minor realignments are being undertaken to accommodate requests from the Botanical Survey of India and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
