SHILLONG, July 16: Infrastructure development in Meghalaya has always been marred by delays and the Shillong-Dawki road project is no different. The project, funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at an estimated cost of Rs 1377.5 crore, has already missed its deadline of December, 2022 and no fresh schedule has been announced for its completion.
The 90-km road project has been divided into four packages of which three packages are yet to be re-awarded after the previous contractors abandoned the work.
The status report of the project states that package-I is to be re-awarded but it is facing issues of land acquisition, forest clearance and utility shifting. Only 41% right of way is available for the NHIDCL in the first package.
The package-II also remains to be re-awarded but the situation is slightly better as the right of way available for NHIDCL is 93.63%. This package also has issues similar to the package-I.
Details about the package-III are unknown as there is no update available with regard to the status report.
Currently work is progress only on the fourth package but the physical progress is a mere 30.33%. This package is scheduled to be completed by July 30 and is sure to miss its deadline.
The final package (V) of the project is to be re-awarded and the government is currently working on the tender papers.
Recently, the High Court of Meghalaya issued an order temporarily prohibiting felling of trees in Package-I of the Shillong-Dawki road project until a contractor is awarded the project and can carry out construction unhindered.
The PWD (Roads and Buildings) submitted a status report I the court revealing that work on package-I had not commenced since the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism is refusing to release land for the project.
