SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong, on Friday, informed that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) is in the process of retendering the works for two of the five packages of the Shillong-Dawki Road project.
“The contractors implementing package 1 and 5 have surrendered the work recently and hence, the NHIDCL is in the process of retendering the works,” said Tynsong.
The deputy chief minister also informed that the government has handed over 90 per cent of the required land to the corporation and only 10 per cent remains to be given for the implementation of the project that is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at an estimated cost of Rs 1187.5 crore and with land acquisition, the total project cost will go up to an estimated Rs 1377.5 crore.
Tynsong, however, asserted that unavailability of land is the major hindrance to the Shillong-Dawki Road project.
“The land belongs to the people and even though laws are in place but if an individual is not willing to part with the land, you cannot do anything,” said Tynsong, lamenting that there are sections of the road on which the government is still negotiating with the landowners.
Stating that the Shillong-Dawki Road is a very important project for the state, the deputy Chief minister reiterated that some of the landowners are not willing to part with their land despite efforts made by the respective deputy commissioners to convince them.
“Therefore, it takes a lot of time and the challenge we are facing too is huge,” he said.
Referring to the criticism against inability of the government to provide land, the deputy chief minister also asked the people, who are blaming the government, to also help in resolving this “chronic problem” relating to unavailability of land.
“Therefore, I request all the stakeholders to please cooperate and not to be selfish as the project is for the benefit of the state and all the people,” Tynsong added.