Shillong, April 27: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) MDC Shemborlang Rynjah wanted a safety audit of the Shillong–Pynursla–Dawki road following several accidental deaths.
In a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday, Rynjah cited atleast 10 deaths on the stretch since 2023 due to landslides, falling boulders, and unsafe construction zones.
The project falls under Lyngkyrdem-Laitkroh which Rynjah represents in KHADC.
Rynjah said the widening works have caused an increase in accidents and reflect a systemic failure in ensuring road safety during infrastructure development.
“Order a comprehensive, independent road safety audit of the entire Shillong–Pynursla–Dawki stretch,” he said in the letter.
Rynjah said the audit is necessary to assess risks across the corridor that connects Shillong to Dawki and tourist hubs like Shnongpdeng and Mawlynnong.
“Recent media reports underscore the gravity of the situation, including the reported death of two individuals after a landslide caused massive boulders to crush their vehicle near Mawlieh,” he said.
“Notably, since 2023 till date, at least ten lives have been lost in accidents along this stretch due to landslides and related hazards,” he said.
According to the MDC, the current conditions violate multiple safety norms.
“These repeated incidents point to a systemic failure in ensuring road safety during infrastructure development, in clear violation of established norms under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended), Indian Road Congress (IRC) standards, and prescribed work-zone safety guidelines,” the letter said.
He deplored absence of warning signage, reflectors, and crash barriers in high-risk zones, poorly managed construction areas, and unscientific hill-cutting that has increased landslide risks.
“The continued exposure of commuters to such hazardous conditions may amount to gross negligence and constitutes a serious violation of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” Rynjah said.
He wanted installation of crash barriers and slope stabilization, proper signage and lighting, contractor accountability, dedicated monitoring teams, regulation of high-risk work during bad weather, and faster completion of the project.
“While infrastructure development is essential, it cannot come at the cost of human lives. The repeated loss of lives on this critical stretch demands urgent and decisive action,” he said.
