Shillong, Apr 27: The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has demanded an independent safety audit of the Shillong–Pynursla–Dawki road, citing an alarming increase in accidents and fatalities, along the crucial stretch.
In a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, VPP leader Shemborlang Rynjah said over ten individuals have tragically lost their lives since the beginning of 2023 due to incidents related to landslides and rockfalls on this stretch, which is undergoing widening works.
Rynjah, who represents the Lyngkyrdem-Laitkroh constituency in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, said the audit is necessary to evaluate hazards along the road connecting Shillong to Dawki, including key tourist destinations such as Shnongpdeng and Mawlynnong.
He urged for immediate intervention to mitigate risks and improve safety standards along the road. Rynjah alleged that ongoing road widening works have exacerbated the frequency and severity of landslides, raising concerns about compliance with safety norms under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, as well as guidelines set by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).
