NEW DELHI: In a major boost to the road sector in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the centre on Friday declared two vital state roads as new national highway for better connectivity in the State.
In a letter to Shillong Lok Sabha member Vincent H Pala, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways declared that the Nongstoin-Mawei-Nongjri road (NH 127B) and Dakhiah-Sutnga-Saipung-Moulsei road would be new National Highways (NH).
Pala had held several meetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to press for upgradation of these roads, besides other projects.
The 401-km National Highway 127B from Srirampur in Kokrajhar district of Assam  to Nongstoin in Meghalaya runs via Dhubri district. This part of the highway has been in extremely dilapidated condition, especially due to the annual floods.
The road length of the two new National Highways will be 75 and 84 km respectively, an official document released to the Meghalaya Government and others said.
The Union ministry has directed the Meghalaya Government to get to the task of preparing DPRs for the road projects.