Shillong, Aug 18: Vincent H Pala, president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee and former MP, met with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today to press for the upgrade of the DSSH Road to national highway status.
Pala emphasised the critical role the DSSH Road plays as a vital economic artery, transporting nearly 80 percent of coal from Jaintia Hills and connecting mineral-rich areas such as Sutnga, Sumer, Saipung and Nongkhlieh. Despite its importance, the road has suffered from prolonged neglect and remains in a severely dilapidated condition, he told the CM.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had previously approved the proposal for upgradation but implementation has yet to begin. Pala acknowledged the state government’s initiative to include the road under the World Bank scheme but stressed the need for immediate action to address the worsening road conditions and daily hardships faced by local communities.
Sangma assured Pala that the state government would take necessary steps to address the matter at the earliest. Pala welcomed the assurance, stating, “This road is not just about connectivity; it is about livelihoods, trade and the welfare of thousands of people. The delay in its upgradation has caused immense suffering. I will continue to pursue this matter until the people receive the infrastructure they rightfully deserve.”
