By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 27: Most of the programmes under the Shillong Smart City project are yet to see the light of the day despite being initiated several years ago.
The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and the construction of smart roads in the city are two such projects that seem to be in the doldrums.
The ICCC and Smart Elements project at New Shillong Township was expected to be completed by March this year. There is no visible action on the ground as April draws to a close.
The authorities concerned also missed the deadline for the installation of surveillance cameras at several strategic locations across the city.
The project estimate is about Rs 212.82 crore and once the system is in place, all vehicles plying in Shillong will be under surveillance after the ICCC is completed by March next year.
The construction of the smart roads is going on at a snail’s pace and there is no sign of timely completion of the project, locals said.
Although the contractor tasked with building Shillong’s smart roads was issued the work order over two years ago, the project is far from being finished.
The project was to have been completed by March 31, but a visit to the areas indicates that the project will take much longer to reach fruition.
The Shillong Smart City Limited has designated a total of 15.9 km of road to be constructed as “smart roads” over two phases.
Eighteen areas, including Jail Road, Bivar Road, Keating Road, Laitumkhrah Market to Fire Brigade via Beat House, Secretariat Hill Road, the road connecting Keating Road and GS Road, and Rhino Point to Last Stop Market, would have smart road construction, according to the bidding document.
However, the government has not been able to complete a single smart road to date.
Other projects such as the construction of shopping complexes under the Smart City project are still far from completion even though the work started quite some time ago.
