NHAI hastens Rs. 1,752-cr NH project

Fast tracking the much delayed highway project entailing an investment of Rs. 1,752-cr which was lying in limbo due to land acquisition issues, NHAI has recently hastened the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road in Upper Shillong up to Sohiong in Meghalaya in the north-eastern region, said sources, claiming that the issue of land acquisition has been settled and now PWD is all set to take up the project shortly. The 264.30 km-long road project involving Rs. 1,494-cr investments, was started in February 2011 and scheduled to be over by March 2014. In the changed scenario, the road will start from Upper Shillong and connect with Jengjal, around 30km from Tura. Meanwhile, land acquisition for the Western Bypass will also be taken up with two-laning of the Western bypass of Shillong from 60.9 to 87.8 km of NH-40 and this stretch will cost Rs. 258cr. The land acquisition estimate for the first 10 km has been prepared by the West Khasi Hills Administration and now the remaining stretch has to be realigned and land acquisition will be initiated only after finalizing the DPR.