Contractors who have quoted nearly one-third below the estimated cost to land the Shillong-Dawki Road project are to blame for most of its troubles, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the Public Works Department (Roads) portfolio, said today.
The project has been beset with controversies, from slow construction to problems with land acquisition and it reached a nadir with the death of two people due to a recent landslide on the route.
Tynsong had already ordered an FIR to be registered following the fatal mishap and today he encouraged anyone else who had an issue with it to file a police complaint.
Yesterday, the government held a review meeting with the top bosses from the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) on the project.
According to Tynsong, the NHIDCL is facing a challenge as companies from outside the state have quoted far below the estimated amount while participating in the tender process for the contract.
“They have quoted 31-32 percent less than the estimated amount, which is illogical, and these are the reasons behind all these things which are happening now,” he said, adding that the NHIDCL should have some sensible regulations for companies that execute the project.
The Deputy CM also said that the state government has done everything required of it, including completing the land acquisition process and handing the land over to the NHIDCL.
