By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has asked the State Government to expedite the process of handing over land for early completion of the Umiam Jorabat four-lane road project.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Wednesday, an NHAI official said that the State Government should speed up its decision on whether to construct the four-lane road from the Umsning bypass or along the existing highway.
“Today it is not affecting the project but after some time it will affect the work. The State Government should hand over the land immediately to avoid any problems,” the official, who did not wish to be named, said, while adding, “The Government is very good in talks but no action has been taken so far.”
The State Government is expected to take a final call on the four-lane project within the third week of January.
The 61.8 km long four-lane project, estimated to cost Rs 536 crore, hit a roadblock after some NGOs in Ri-Bhoi district stood up in opposition to the State Government’s decision to construct the road through the Umsning bypass. After the State Assembly revised the earlier decision and sought to construct the road along the existing Umsning highway, another group of NGOs protested the new decision, forcing the Government to delay its final decision.
