The Public Works Department (PWD) in Meghalaya has not conducted a single road audit since 2018, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale said today.
According to Gokhale this was revealed through an RTI application to the department. “It is an incredibly shocking fact that the PWD and the government of Meghalaya have failed to conduct even a single road audit in the last 4.5 years. These are roads constructed through public money and are meant to be a lifeline for people, especially in the state of Meghalaya where rural connectivity is important and extremely crucial,” he said.
Gokhale also wrote a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong seeking explanation on why road audit was not conducted when in June 2021 the department had invited proposals for road safety audit consultants. He also sought explanation on how funds meant for road audits have been spent since 2018.
Pointing out that Meghalaya is one of the eight states selected under the PMGSY, Rural Roads Project-II (RRP-II) and that it is funded by the centre along with the World Bank, he said Rs 810.42 crore has been allocated for Meghalaya.
Expressing concern on the abysmal state of roads and said that despite the existing central sponsored PMGSY the road conditions in the state shows no sign of improvement.
He quoted the 2018 data of the Meghalaya Police that 259 road accidents and eight deaths were recorded due to road accidents, and said, “This is not only a serious lapse but also a matter of grave concern. The government has not done its basic duty and not carried out a single road audit has absolutely no justification.”
