State Congress Party official Manuel Badwar has sharply criticised a road in the Lachumiere neighbourhood here that was supposed to be developed under the Smart City project.
The road in question runs from the Meghalaya Public Service Commission building behind All Saints School and ends at the Passport Office. It also happens to pass by the Shillong Press Club, keeping it at the forefront of the media’s mind.
Roadworks began in 2022 with the entire stretch dug up to facilitate the laying of cables, etc. However, in July this year, Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar announced that this road project had been cancelled because it was not feasible despite the massive inconvenience to members of the public.
In fact, the government decided to cancel all 17 projects in the city that were meant to convert existing roads into ‘smart roads’ at a cost of Rs 36 crore. Dhar claimed that only a small amount had been spent on this Lachumiere road.
Speaking to Highland Post recently, Badwar questioned if the work was given to contractors without expertise or if the smart project had been modified just so that the project could be awarded to contractors who could make money.
“A smart city project encompasses many works from infrastructure that include civil works and many others. If the smart city project is not approached through an integrated form, then it will reach nowhere,” he said.
He also questioned how public representatives can allow such construction without any proper discussions, etc.
“Is this the way the public money and the state exchequer are being wasted?” he asked, adding that the same is the case for every project undertaken in the state. “How can our MLAs approve such messy constructions and completion of a project [in name only]? Is it not the public and students who are suffering now and facing hazardous situations because of such pathetic execution?”
