Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 256/12

CM TAKES UP ROAD CONNECTIVITY ISSUE WITH UNION MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

Shillong, July 24, 2012: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma today has written to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Dr C P Joshi thanking him for his personal intervention in ensuring continued support from the Ministry and also requested him to visit Meghalaya and review the progress of various works sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Meghalaya.

In his letter, Dr Mukul lauded the Ministry for having sanctioned the pave shouldering of NH 44 between Jowai and Ratacherra sector but he informed him that in view of the recent landslips in the sector due to heavy rains, the Highway was blocked and the State PWD have to undertake maintenance and restoration work of the road by deploying heavy machineries to clear the road and restore communication. Dr Mukul appeal to the Ministry to provide funds for maintenance of the road as the State has limited resources. He also informed that since the State PWD has a dedicated Division for maintenance of the road in the sector, it would be prudent to consider assigning the supervision works of NH 44 to the State PWD.

Dr Mukul also informed the Union Minister that the DPRs for SARDP Phase ‘A’ and ‘B’ schemes, ‘2 Laning of Ranikor-Maheshkola-Baghmara road are under finalisation and would be submitted to the Ministry soon. He also mentioned that the DPR for the scheme ‘2 Laning of Rongrengre - Simsangre - Nengkhra road under SARDP Phase ‘B’ was submitted by the State Government in April 2011 and urged upon the Union Minister to facilitate sanctioning of the schemes on priority basis. He also requested the Union Minister for considering conversion of 26 numbers of semi permanent timber bridges on NH 62 into permanent RCC structures, DPRs of which is being prepared by the State PWD.

Dr Mukul expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for declaring Srirampur-Dhubri-Phulbari-Tura-Rongram-Rongjeng-Nongstoin as National Highway 127-B covering about 361kms in Meghalaya which he felt that it is a far sighted initiative for promoting trade and commerce not just within the North Eastern region but also for trade and transit with Bhutan and Bangladesh. “It has helped fulfilling the long standing aspirations of the people of the region”, he added. While requesting the Union Minister to give suitable instructions to the officials to begin work on the project expeditiously, Dr Mukul assured the Union Minister that the State Government will extend its full support for speedy implementation of the project including making available the land required for construction of the the major bridge over the river Brahmaputra connecting Dhubri in Assam with Phulbari in Meghalaya.