By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 21: The High Court of Meghalaya has strongly criticised NHIDCL for the shabby and unscientific execution of the under-construction Shillong-Dawki road, observing that the manner of work is endangering human lives and pushing up construction costs.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh was informed that compensation of Rs 4 lakh and Rs 6 lakh had been paid directly to the legal heirs of two persons who lost their lives after a boulder crashed onto their vehicle on the Shillong-Dawki road.
During the hearing of the PIL, Amicus Curiae Philemon Nongbri submitted a preliminary inspection report of the road carried out on May 14, 2026. The report stated that the carriageway was in deplorable condition, covered with loose mud and uncleared debris, making it barely motorable and extremely dangerous for the public. It highlighted the complete absence of sturdy barricades to separate live traffic from deep drops and excavation zones. Instead, the contractor had used only thin wooden sticks tied with safety tape, which offered no real protection.
The report further pointed out that signage was grossly inadequate, with “landslide prone area” and “drive slow” messages written on insecure flex banners instead of standard high-visibility boards. Despite heavy fog and poor visibility in the area, there were no reflectors, delineators or luminous markers. There were also no proper “men at work” signs or advance warnings near operating heavy machinery. The inspection revealed failure to maintain a traffic-worthy surface, non-clearance of rock debris as mandated by Indian Road Congress manuals, and non-compliance with the Hill Road Manual regarding edge protection on the valley side. These deficiencies had instilled severe panic among commuters, resulting in a sharp drop in traffic.
Nitesh Mozika, DSGI, submitted a report on behalf of NHIDCL along with the findings of hill road expert Ashish D. Gharpure, who inspected the vulnerable stretches. Gharpure’s report criticised the inadequate right-of-way, neglected slope stability, steep unscientific cuts, and poor drainage practices. He warned that continuing such un-engineered work would lead to catastrophic damage, loss of human lives, and a massive increase in project costs.
The Court observed that the work was being carried out in a shabby and unscientific manner by the contractor, with NHIDCL also sharing responsibility. The court noted that the DPR itself appeared defective and that the contractor was selected mainly on financial capacity rather than expertise in hill road construction.
The Court directed NHIDCL to place the expert report before its highest authorities, the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, and other senior officers for urgent action. It also issued several interim directions, asking the authorities to immediately replace all makeshift flex banners with standardised retro-reflective warning and regulatory signs as per IRC guidelines, install strong physical barricades with reflectors in vulnerable stretches, and urgently restore the carriageway to a safe motorable condition by clearing loose mud.
The Court further directed the deployment of trained flagmen with communication devices and high-visibility gear to regulate traffic near heavy machinery. It asked the state government and NHIDCL to hold high-level meetings to expedite the work without compromising safety and quality.
The Advocate General was directed to ensure police deployment for smooth traffic movement, while the authorities were asked to examine the possibility of stationing ambulances at strategic locations.
The Court also sought details on the relocation of a school mentioned in the expert’s recommendations and whether the shifting had disrupted the children’s education.
The PIL will be next heard on June 3.
