By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Two days after the State Cabinet decided to construct the proposed four-laning work through the Umsning Bypass, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has assured that it will make a ‘fantastic road’ from the existing Umsning road.
The Cabinet had also decided to develop and widen the existing Umsning road.
An official of the NHAI while speaking to The Shillong Times here on Wednesday said, “We will make a fantastic road from the existing Umsning road and residents of the stretch would love it.”
The NHAI official also welcomed the Government’s decision to construct the four-laning through the Umsning Bypass.
It may be mention that the NHAI had earlier opposed the idea of constructing the four-lane road through the Umsning Bypass saying “it cannot change the alignment again since the actual alignment for the project was done from the Umsning Bypass way backing 2003.”
The distance of the road from the Umsning Bypass is about 5.21kms (from Lad Mawrong at Jingkieng Umtrew) whereas the distance between the two points on the existing road is only about 4.17 km.
However, since the Government has given its nod to construct the road from the Umsning Bypass, the NHAI is now waiting for the land to be handed over for early completion of the project.
“Once we get the land we will immediately start construction,” the NHAI official said.
The land acquisition process from the Umsning bypass is yet to start and the district administration is waiting for an official communiqué from the State Government to start the land acquisition process.
The work for the project began last year.
Meanwhile, the land owners along the existing Umsning road and the Ri-Bhoi Student’s Union (RBSU) have blamed the Government of betraying them by deciding to construct the proposed four laning through the Umsning Bypass.
“We have been betrayed by the Government which has failed to respect the assurance they have made in the State Assembly on March 22 last year,” RBSU president Tyngshain Lapang said on Tuesday.
