As many as 14 works for widening of national highways and road over bridge (ROB) works were allotted in Meghalaya during the last three years.
According to official sources, the total length of the highway widening is 289 kilometres and the total amount sanctioned for the works is Rs 5269 crore.
However, only one widening and ROB work has been completed during the last three years with a total length of 18 kilometres. The total sanctioned cost for the work is Rs 51.52 crore.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways allocates funds for development of national highways in all states and union territories to be executed by them.
For works being executed through the State government, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways allocated Rs 65 crore for Meghalaya in 2022-23 of which the expenditure was Rs 58 crore.
In 2021-22, the allocation was Rs 60 crore of which Rs 69 crore was spent. Further, in 2020-21, the allocation was Rs 17 crore while the expenditure was Rs 19 crore.
Various types of maintenance and repair works taken up on national highways include Ordinary Repairs (OR), Periodical Renewals (PR), Special Repairs (SR) and Flood Damage Repairs (FDR). The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of national highways.
During the last three years, the damage caused to national highways in the State due to rainfall and floods is increasing.
In 2020-21, the total length of highways damaged in the State is 27.11 kilometres. In 2021-22, the damaged highway length was 104 kilometres. In 2022-23, the damage increased to 148.47 kilometres.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also allocated and released funds for maintenance and repair of the damaged highways in the State during the last three years.
In 2020-21, the amount allocated was Rs 61.66 crore of which the expenditure was Rs 45.64 crore. In 2021-22, the allocation was Rs 64.07 crore while the amount spent was Rs 52.86 crore.
In 2022-23, the Ministry allocated Rs 36.44 crore for maintenance and repair of damaged highways in the State. The amount spent was Rs 32.94 crore.
