The first package of the Shillong-Dawki road widening project from Rilbong to Mylliem Marbaniang covering 11.6 km is expected to be completed by October 2025.
This was indicated by Additional Advocate General K Khan and Deputy Solicitor General Nitesh Mozika during the hearing of a PIL in the division bench of Meghalaya High Court today.
According to both Khan and Mozika, for the first package of the project which involves construction of a four-lane highway from Rilbong to Mylliem Marbaniang, the acquisition of land by the State government and its handing over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been completed.
They also informed the court that the contractor who was entrusted with the work for the first package has been discharged and replaced by a new contractor on September 25, 2023 with a timeline of two years to complete the work from the date of commencement of the contract that is 23rd October, 2023.
It was also informed that till date about 16.5 per cent of the work has been completed and 14.3 per cent of the financial allocation spent for this purpose.
The proposed highway has been divided into five packages, Rilbong to Mylliem Marbaniang covering 11.6 km, Mylliem Marbaniang to Wahlyngkhat of a length of 26.55 km, Wahlyngkhat to Siatbakon covering a bypass of 8 km, Siatbakon to Wahkdait for 17.77 km; and Wahkdait to Tamabil Dawki a distance of 7.99 km.
Meanwhile, the High Court directed the NHIDCL and the contractor to go ahead with construction of the four-lane highway (first package) from Rilbong to Mylliem Marbaniang without felling of trees for the time being.
“They can proceed with all other work except felling of trees, for the time being. A joint report by the NHIDCL and the State government is to be filed in this Court by 29th November, 2024 disclosing proposed afforestation in the area around the first package with all necessary details,” a division bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said in the order.
According to the High Court, in its previous orders it had made it clear that till the NHIDCL took a conclusive decision to go ahead with and complete the project, felling of the trees would remain stalled.
The High Court said that accordingly, there has been no felling of trees in this stretch up to this point of time.
The Court stated that the grievance of the writ petitioner Kaustav Paul has been that the existing road is lined up with very old and precious trees which are not only priceless but also contribute to the natural beauty of the landscape.
Paul, appearing in person, told the High Court that the people of the area whom he represents in this PIL do not have any objection to this developmental work of building a highway but would request for appropriate afforestation to be done in that particular area to maintain the ecological balance and environmental beauty.
The High Court will hear the PIL again on December 3 during which a joint report by the NHIDCL and the State government will be filed before the court disclosing the proposed afforestation in the area around the first package with all necessary details. The court would also give its approval for this afforestation proposal and issue further directions to proceed with construction and completion of the highway in the first package.
