SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite the process of overlay of the existing Umsning road, which is in a deplorable condition.
The directive came after the PWD (Roads) held a meeting to review the progress of construction of the Umsning Bypass and the status of Umsning road on NH-6.
Representatives of NHAI also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the chief minister was informed that necessary measures were being taken up to repair the road.
A proposal for the overlay of the road has been sent to the NHAI headquarters and the project is likely to be approved shortly.
It was also informed that the Umsning Bypass would be commissioned in December this year and the road would be opened for traffic in January 2018 following safety audit.
It is learnt that a bridge and a vehicular under pass along the Umsning Bypass is yet to be constructed.
The ongoing construction work on the Umsning Bypass is almost complete while the remaining work would be taken up after the rainy season.
Though the state government wanted to construct a four-lane road from the existing one, stiff opposition from NGOs prompted the state government and NHAI to add Umsning Bypass as an integral part of the project.
