Nongstoin, Jan 19: The DPR for Phase II of the 70-km Nongstoin-Rambrai-Chaygaon road is yet to be approved by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway, worrying local headmen in West Khasi Hills.
The road project, once complete, will reduce the travel time to the Gopinath Bordoloi Airport by two hours. The project is being implemented by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), which is also developing the 80-km Shillong-Tamabil road project.
The first phase of the project, covering a stretch of 34 km, has already been completed.
Phase II was expected to begin in the financial year 2026. It will cover the remaining villages — Mawdumdum, Nongkyllang, Newnongkyllang, Mawdiengkprer, Mawpayier-Patharphlang, Mawpon, Nongspung and Kyrshai in West Khasi Hills on the Meghalaya side.
The road will then cross the Rambrai river into Assam, cutting across Ukiam, Borkhuli, Boledongnga, Umkhamdol, Mawdongdop, Maringra, Hashem, Umdiangsiang, Umdiagphiang, Talismara and then Chaygoan to meet NH-24 in Kamrup.
Another cause for worry among the locals is that they have already signed the agreement deed for land compensation for Phase II. However, NHIDCL has not come clean about the next phase and whether it would be developed or abandoned.
Recently, the Syiem of Rambrai Elaka, along with the Synjuk of Village Headmen (Sordars), met at Mawdumdum and adopted a resolution to jointly write to the Meghalaya PWD Minister and the ministry to immediately implement Phase II.
