TURA, July 5: Citing the “physically demanding” and dangerous state of the current arterial network, AHAM, a Garo Hills-based organisation, has demanded that the state government move beyond piecemeal repairs and initiate a high-speed, four-lane expressway to finally bridge the divide between Shillong and Tura.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Sunday, the Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) highlighted a stark disparity in infrastructure development. The organisation pointed out that while corridors such as Dhubri-Phulbari and the Shillong-Silchar Greenfield Highway are being upgraded to four lanes, the state’s most vital internal link remains an outdated, winding mountain road.
The existing route is plagued by sharp “zigzag” curves, steep gradients, and narrow stretches that create frequent traffic bottlenecks. These conditions result in gruelling travel times and significant risks for commuters. For residents of the Garo Hills, the lack of a modern corridor is a critical hurdle; for patients requiring emergency specialist care at NEIGRIHMS in Shillong, the delay can be a matter of life and death.
AHAM described the Shillong-Tura road as the political and economic lifeline between Meghalaya’s two principal urban centres. However, they noted that travel between the cities remains arduous compared to modern highway standards being implemented elsewhere in the Northeast.
The organisation urged the government to prioritise the four-lane project to ensure better state integration, reduce the physical toll on travellers, and provide a necessary boost to trade and the transportation of agricultural produce.
