The state government has announced that approximately 80 percent of the work on the alternative road connecting the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) with Umroi is currently underway.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who is in charge of the Public Works Department (Roads), stated, “About 80 percent of the work is progressing. There were challenges with the alignment, but engineers and contractors have addressed these issues, and we hope to finish soon.”
When asked about the timeline for completion, Tynsong replied, “We are doing everything we can to finish the project as early as possible. While I cannot provide an exact completion date, we aim to complete it soon, which will facilitate operations for night bus services.”
Tynsong also mentioned that regular review meetings are being held to ensure the project’s expedited completion.
The state government is facing a significant challenge as the Rs 48 crore ISBT, inaugurated three years ago with much fanfare by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has been non-operational ever since work began around a year ago on renovation work on the Umiam Dam bridge. Even since the reopening of the bridge, night super buses have been banned from using it in order to protect it.
The ISBT has faced other problems since its opening, such as heavy rainwater leakage one year and the problem of taxis overcharging passengers to and from the city to the terminus.
