SHILLONG: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will start work on the Jowai-Malidor road project from March this year.
Officials informed that the NHAI has already started the road maintenance.
The NHAI has assigned the project to GR Infrastructure, which had constructed and completed the Shillong Bypass one year ahead of its deadline.
According to officials, though NHAI has got some portion of the land for the project, the Meghalaya Government is yet to hand over around 11 acres of land needed for the project.
Officials said that the State government must expedite the process of land acquisition besides getting the clearance for the Narpuh Reserve Forest to ensure early completion of the project.
The estimated budget of the two land road project is Rs 452 crore.
The proposed up gradation of National Highway 44 from Jowai in West Jaintia Hills to Malidor on the Meghalaya-Assam border, which was scheduled to start in 2014 was delayed due to various reasons.
It may be mentioned that the expansion work of the arterial NH 44 has been approved under Phase III of the National Highway Development Programme.
