The process for construction of the Sonapur – Borghat road in East Jaintia Hills is at the final stage and work order is likely to be issued soon.
A notice inviting tender for upgradation and improvement of the Sonapur – Borghat road has already been issued by the PWD and the last date for receiving offers is March 28.
However, since the contractor who quoted the lowest bid for the road project had submitted fabricated documents, the PWD decided to select another contractor from among those who submitted their bids.
During the hearing of a PIL filed by local resident Kynjaimon Amse by the division bench of Meghalaya High Court today, the State government said that after the elimination of the previous lowest bidder on the ground of submission of fabricated documents, the new contractor will be identified within the next ten days.
On this, the High Court expressed hope that the work order would have been issued within the period. The court also listed the matter for hearing on August 3.
The DONER Ministry has sanctioned Rs 126 crore for the construction of the Sonapur – Borghat road to provide connectivity to the four border villages – Huroi, Hingaria, Lahelein and Lejri.
Earlier, the North Eastern Council under the North East Road Sector Development Scheme has given in-principle clearance for sanction of Rs 62.02 crores for construction of the 39.6 km stretch of Sonapur – Borghat road.
Further, an Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee of the DONER Ministry which met on July 7, 2021 agreed that the State government would fund the balance amount of the project beyond the available outlay of Rs 62.02 crores.
It may be recalled that the PIL was filed by Amse in 2018 who highlighted the suffering of local villagers of Huroi, Hingaria, Lahelein and Lejri due to the deplorable condition of the existing road.
