Rs 2,226 crore allocated for road connectivity in state

SHILLONG:

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on March 23, allocated an amount of Rs 2,226 crore for roads sector in Meghalaya.

Presenting the budget, the chief minister said that the amount will be spent on building new roads, and maintaining existing networks, also taking into account the projects that are ongoing across the state.

Sangma further informed that the government is developing an “Integrated Transport Network Development Plan” and “Road Asset Management System” in collaboration with the World Bank.

The chief minister pointed out that rural connectivity remains a challenge although the government has built more rural roads in the last five years than during the last 20 years.

During his speech, the chief minister also announced the ‘Chief Minister’s Rural Connectivity Scheme’ that will connect villages not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY); these will also include building suspension and foot bridges.

He said that road projects amounting to Rs 3,000 that were initiated by the MDA 1 government in the last three years that include Dawki-Bholaganj, Balat-Shella, Mairang-Ranigodown-Azra, Demthring-Sohmynting-Moodymmai, Nartiang-Nongpoh, and the Rongram-Phulbari roads will be completed and dedicated to the people of the state in 2023-24.

The CM further revealed that works on restoration of roads and bridges damaged during the floods of June 2022 is progressing well, and the restoration work costing Rs 188 crore will be completed in the next financial year.