SHILLONG, Aug 8: The deadline of several road projects being implemented in the state by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been revised due to slow progress of work.
The NHIDCL had begun implementing the projects in 2019.
According to the status report of the NHIDCL, 19 projects, awarded at an overall cost of Rs 1,791 crore, are being implemented but almost all of them are far from completion.
The list includes the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-sanctioned Shillong-Dawki road project. The work on one package of this project was abandoned by the contractor.
The only project where the company achieved more than 60% physical progress is the Ranikor-Maheshkhola-Baghmara road section from Rongara to Panda. The road is being improved/widened to 2-lane with earthen shoulder. Its physical progress is 60.86%. The project was awarded in 2020. The physical progress of the two-laning of (Contd on P-4)
Slow pace of work in state: Road projects…
(Contd from P-1) Ranikor-Nonghyllam- Maheshkhola-Baghmara (from design Ch. 0.000 to Ch. 129.385) package is 53.21%. It was awarded in 2019.
The work for the widening of the Tura-Dalu road to two-lane with geometric improvement and paved shoulder is also being undertaken at a slow pace. The physical progress is only 46.21%. It was awarded in 2018.
Similarly, improvement and widening to two-lane with paved shoulder from (design Km 0.00 to Km 10.670) and four-laning from (design Km 0.00 to Km 0.930) between Shillong-Dawki (Package-1) is till now only 6.66% completed.
The work on this section of the road, awarded in 2020, is completely stalled.
In most of the projects, a major portion of right of way is available and the targeted date of completion is December 2022. Given the slow progress, the deadline has been revised to 2023 for some of the projects. Some are having issues of land acquisition while some are faced with issues related to forest.
