Shillong, Sep 9: The State government has announced plans to construct an Eastern Bypass covering nearly 10 km from Sohryngkham to Mawshbuit and Mawlynrei.
The project is designed to divert heavy and commercial vehicles away from the city’s core areas.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of PWD (Roads), Prestone Tynsong, informed the Assembly on Tuesday that the bypass would also provide a long-term solution to the Mawshbuit–Happy Valley road problem, where the 58 Gorkha Training Centre has erected a gate, causing difficulties for local residents.
Tynsong said the Mawshbuit village authority has already handed over land to the government through a gift deed for the road project. A survey has shown that about four kilometres of the Mawshbuit–Mawlynrei stretch is available for construction, although 300 metres of it falls under defence land. Negotiations are underway with defence authorities to secure access.
Once the Sohryngkham–Mawshbuit and Mawshbuit–Mawlynrei roads are linked, the Deputy Chief Minister said, the stretch will operate as the Eastern Bypass, ensuring trucks and other large vehicles no longer need to pass through Shillong. He expressed optimism that the project will address the issue on a permanent basis.
On the condition of the 600-metre Mawshbuit–Happy Valley road, which is under defence control, Tynsong admitted it is in poor shape. He said the state government will request the defence authorities to repair it, but if they are unable to do so, the state is willing to take up the task once the no-objection certificate (NOC) is granted.
Assuring the House, Tynsong said the government’s priority is to ensure that residents of Mawshbuit do not continue to suffer due to poor road connectivity, and the bypass project will play a key role in addressing their concerns.
