Shillong, July 22: The Mawphlang-Ranikor road is one of the 60,000 detailed project reports (DPRs), which have been cancelled by the Centre.
Cabinet minister and Mawkyrwat legislator Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar met the Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in the national capital to follow up the matter.
Tongkhar told reporters that the PMO had asked to withdraw all 60,000 DPRs on roads which have not been declared as national highways (NH) and unfortunately, the important stretch from Mawphlang to Ranikor via Mawkyrwat is one of them.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been asked to immediately stop the work.
However, payment can be made but no further progress is allowed.
The road was constructed by the erstwhile government of Assam in 1965.
The crucial road not only connects the state capital with South West Khasi Hills but this is also the only road where the people of four constituencies – Mawphlang, Mawsynram, Mawkyrwat and Ranikor have to pass everyday when they come to Shillong.
The road also links the state capital with the international border.
Tongkhar said he had gone to Delhi to know the reason for the sudden cancellation of the road project and argued with the secretary of the ministry on the importance of the road.
“We have got good roads from Shillong upto Mawphlang but from Mawphlang to Ranikor and then to Mawkyrwat, we have small narrow road whereas from Ranikor to Rongra and then to Baghmara, the national highway road construction is going on in full swing. So I told the ministry that it is a missing link as in between we have no good road,” he said.
Tongkhar said he apprised the ministry to include the road in the list to be declared as NH.
The minister said he would also take up with the chief minister to fund for construction of the road from other sources.
He also wanted people to know that the road is yet to be declared as NH.
