SHILLONG, SEPT 22: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said the National Highway Authority of India is still continuing with its “safety audit” of the Shillong- Guwahati road. He also indicated that an “independent” safety audit could also be undertaken.
Sangma was replying to supplementary on the latest status on the construction of the Guwahati-Shillong national highway (National Highway 40) tabled by UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh on Tuesday in the autumn session of the Megalaya assembly.
Mawthoh said he was concerned over the frequent landslides along the highway. He question if the principles of road engineering were adhered in the expansion of the highway as there are recurrent landslide that claimed a life last year beside posing difficulty to commuters who were stranded for hours.
Sangma said after the state government insisted with NHAI on the need to keep safety measures, and slope stabilization during a meeting the implementing agency/concessionaire has assured the state government of following the safety norms of slope stabilization.
Sangma informed the house that the state government will give a completion certificate based on the report of the safety audit.
Meghalaya PWD (roads) minister Sniawbhalang Dhar had also informed that house that the construction of the balance portion of the four-lane highway is mainly on the Umsning bypass, which is of 5.27 km in length.
Responding to a query by opposition leader Donkupar Roy, Dhar said the physical progress in the construction of the highway is around 91.56 per cent while the land acquisition process for the road construction on the Umsning bypass was completed recently.- By Our Reporter
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