SHILLONG: The 62 km long four-lane Expressway from Umiam to Jorabat constructed by the national Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with an estimated budget of around Rs 536 crore has already begun to show wear and tear in several places even though the project is yet to be fully completed.
Water logging is also turning out to be a major problem on the Expressway with large stretches of the highway in Ri Bhoi found to be fully inundated on numerous occasions after rainfall.
Sources informed that wear and tear and potholes are a common occurrence on bitumen roads in hilly areas.
Though driving or travelling on the Expressway continues to be delightful, potholes on certain stretches spoil the fun.
Sources indicated that extra pressure is exerted on curved areas due to movement of vehicles and added that road maintenance is a continuous process.
The implementing agency (NHAI) is set to maintain the Expressway for another 15 years since three years of road maintenance have already passed away.
Reacting to a query on the problem of water logging on the Expressway, sources admitted that there were some issues near Umling and added that the NHAI would make some changes on the road to address the issue of water logging.
Earlier, complaints of water logging had surfaced in and around Nongpoh area following which the implementing agency has begun construction of drains in the area to prevent water logging, the sources added.
