Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today laid the foundation stone for the Umsning-Jagi Road at a function held at Mawhati today.
According to Sangma, the road was last repaired during his father’s time. “This road has been neglected for years and the last time this road was repaired during late PA Sangma’s time and to be able to continue the work started by Late PA Sangma gives me joy and makes this occasion more special,” he said.
The road is a major district road starting from the 51st km of NH6 at Umsning and ends at Umsiang village at the Assam–Meghalaya border at a total length of 80 km.
The works of upgradation and improvement of the road will be taken up under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP) funded by World Bank, which has a length of 40.13 km in the district. The project road starts from the junction with National Highway – 6 /Asian Highway and ends at 40.13 km of SH-8 near Sonidan village.
The scope of work under the project includes widening of existing carriageway width to 5.5m Intermediate standard within the available Right of Way (ROW).
The Umsning-Jagi Road project amounts to Rs 83, 38, 49, 016.00 and the stipulated time for completion is 36 months.
About 17 villages are directly connected by this road viz., Umsohlang, Nongjri, Nongkya, Sohpdok, Tdohumsiang, Raitong, Tdohumshiaw, Laiphew Diengngan, Mawdiengngan, Umlatar, Umwiehsnieh, Shilliang Umdoh, Mawhati, Pdeng, Jatah, Umsohlait and Sonidan including 25 villages of Umranong, Thad, Tiehwieh, Khliehumtrew, Mawkynrong, Umshiaw, Kseh Kynjoin, Umlaiteng, Kdohhati, Prangdngiem, Umjapung, Lummihwar, Laitsyiar, Sohphoh, Moorathud, Ingsaw, Pamlaban, Pamrinai, Iamkhon, Pdengnongrim, Pamphlang, Jair, Lamalong, Mawtari and Syntumaw.
The Chief Minister said that the road is very important not only for people of Mawhati but for the entire state. “Through this road, we can connect faster to Jagi road and then to Upper Assam making this road a very strategic road economically as the entire area in this region or the district has a lot of trade with the rest of Assam,” he added.
The Chief Minister also said that in future the road will be even more critical for the connectivity between the state of Assam and the state of Meghalaya.
“Hence realizing all these facts we have done our best to help and support the people of this area so that this project is initiated for not only Mawhati but the entire State,” he said.
He also informed that the 10 km Bhoirymbong-Mawlasnai-Sabuda Road amounting to 18.5 crores has also been sanctioned and allotted.
He further said that many PMGSY roads and other developmental projects like Block Office and school buildings are in the pipeline for the area.
Among others present were Transport Minister and Mawhati MLA Dasakhiatbha Lamare, Umsning MLA Jason Mawlong, Jirang MLA, Sosthenes Sohtun, Jowai MLA, Wailadmiki Shylla, Umsning MDC, Macdalyn Mawlong and Jirang MDC, Victor Ranee.
