Shillong, Feb 19: Deputy Chief Minister in charge PWD Prestone Tynsong today assured the house that the department would take corrective measures wherever necessary.
Replying to a debate on a motion raised by Leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma on the functioning of the PWD, Tynsong placed detailed updates on PMGSY, MITP, CRF and inter-state road projects before the house.
Tynsong said the department remains committed to transparency and adherence to established guidelines, particularly in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
He informed that under PMGSY-I (2000–2019), a total of 1,079 roads and 96 long span bridges were sanctioned at a cost of Rs 2,605.90 crore. Of these, 1,063 roads and all 96 bridges have been completed, while the remaining 16 roads will be completed by March 2026, enabling full closure of the PMGSY-I component within the current financial year.
Under PMGSY-II, 94 roads and 12 long span bridges were sanctioned with an outlay of Rs 380.28 crore. So far, 92 roads and all 12 bridges have been completed, with the remaining two roads expected to be finished by March 2026. For PMGSY-III, 141 roads and 55 long span bridges were sanctioned at a cost of Rs 1,448 crore. Of these, 36 roads have been completed with an expenditure of Rs 374.98 crore, while the remaining 105 road projects, along with the bridges, are targeted for completion by December 2026. From PMGSY-I till date, a total of 5,959.29 km of roads have been completed across the state.
He further informed that under PMGSY Phase IV, the Centre had asked states to identify unconnected habitations. Meghalaya conducted surveys of 903 habitations from 2024 onwards and submitted the list to the Ministry of Rural Development. Of these, 329 habitations have been approved, and the PWD is currently preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), some of which have already been submitted. Tynsong expressed hope that work in a number of these approved habitations would commence during 2026.
Addressing concerns about selection criteria and alleged manipulation, the minister said PMGSY projects are selected strictly as per guidelines, leaving no scope for discretionary inclusion or exclusion. On allegations of inflated or faulty estimates, he stated that every DPR prepared by the department is vetted by the State Rural Roads Development Agency and further scrutinised by the State Designated Agency, which in Meghalaya is Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. Without such vetting, he said, the Government of India would not approve the DPRs.
Turning to the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP), Tynsong described it as a “strategic initiative” to revamp the state’s transport infrastructure under an externally aided framework through the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India. The project, supported by the World Bank, has a total estimated cost of $150 million to be implemented over six years. Of this, 80 per cent constitutes a loan component and 20 per cent is state counterpart funding. The World Bank provides a $120 million loan, of which 90 per cent is subsidised by the Centre, leaving the state to repay $12 million. The loan carries a six-year moratorium, with repayments scheduled from December 2026 to June 2034 at an interest rate of 6.25 per cent.
The MITP includes components on effective delivery and maintenance of transport infrastructure, asset management and institutional strengthening, project management and implementation, and a contingent emergency response mechanism. Under the project, the PWD has undertaken rehabilitation and improvement of 330.63 km of roads, including 11 non-urban roads covering 285.5 km, two urban roads spanning 34.90 km, four tourism roads of 10.11 km, and one standalone 120-metre bridge.
Responding to allegations of inferior quality works, the minister outlined a three-tier quality control mechanism. The first tier involves contractor-level execution under Indian Roads Congress, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and BIS standards with continuous supervision by Construction Supervision Consultants. The second tier includes independent reviews by the Project Management Consultant and inspections by the client authority, with monthly reporting to the World Bank. The third tier comprises external oversight by World Bank experts who assess compliance with environmental and social safeguards, labour management, safety measures and grievance redressal systems.
The World Bank-supported MITP, which commenced in January 2021, is slated for completion by October 2026. The total project outlay is Rs 1,238 crore, of which Rs 1,095.83 crore has been utilised as of January 2026. Physical progress stands at 90.64 per cent, while financial progress is at 88.52 per cent. The project is expected to benefit 503 villages and 41 works, covering a population of nearly 7.99 lakh people, and is projected to boost connectivity, small businesses and overall economic activity.
On inter-state connectivity, Tynsong acknowledged concerns over incomplete stretches, including projects initially taken up under schemes that have since been closed by the Centre. He cited the Nongstoiñ–Rambrai stretch as completed, while the remaining portion from Kyrshai to Chaygaon is yet to be taken up. He said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has met the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways to press for completion of such partially executed projects to ensure that both Meghalaya and neighbouring states fully benefit.
He also highlighted the bottleneck near Phulbari, where a four-lane bridge is nearing completion but the connecting road remains an intermediate lane. The state has requested the Centre to widen the stretch up to Agia into a four-lane road to ensure seamless movement between Assam, Meghalaya and beyond, noting that incomplete widening would undermine the utility of the existing four-lane corridors.
Rejecting allegations of nepotism in project selection, Tynsong asserted that the government does not discriminate between ruling and opposition constituencies and remains guided by constitutional principles and the broader interest of the state. He reiterated that all issues raised in the motion have been noted and assured the House that necessary corrective measures would be undertaken wherever required.
