Shillong, Aug 3: The dream of about 4 lakhs of people in West Khasi Hills, especially those in the most neglected and remotest villages, to reach Guwahati via the shortest route in just few hours will soon be a reality when the ongoing 70-km (approximately) two-lane road construction from Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai will join the NH 24 Guwahati-Boko-Paikan at Chaygaon.
The road project is expected to be completed in 2-3 years. This means it will reduce the travel time between Nongstoin, Chaygaon and Gopinath Bordoloi Airport by two hours. At present, one has to travel via Shillong from Nongstoin to reach the Guwahati airport. The time taken is about five hours. Another shorter route preferred by residents is through Mairang and Jirang, which takes about three-and-a-half hours.
As of now, construction of the first phase of 34 km was completed in May this year, except for a few portions of fine-tuning.
The construction work in the second phase will soon resume after the rainy season in September, after the final approval of the DPR and the release of funds by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, along with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also the PWD Minister, is consistently pursuing with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the timely completion of the project.
Phase I of the two-lane project started from Nongstoin town in 2023, and then proceeded to Tiehsaw and Mawrusyiar, and finally reached the villages of Steplanglur, Mawlieh, Domjri, Thlongblei, Mawphanrang, Mawthungmarwei, Nongdisong, Marang, Mawthaw, Lawdibah, Sohmynthar, Mawthir and Mawlong (approximately 34 km).
The second phase of about the same length will continue from Mawlong village, then proceed to Nongkyllang, New Nongkyllang, Mawdumdum, Mawdiangkper, Patharphlang, Mawpon, Kyrshai, cross the river Rambrai-Khri, then go through the villages of Ukiam, Borkhuli, Boledongnga, Umkhamdol, Mawdongdop, Maringra, Hashem, Umdiangsiang, Umdiangphiang and Talismara, and reach Chaygaon in NH-24 (Guwhati-Boko etc).
Banner photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-concrete-road-beside-brown-mountain-during-golden-hour-163848/
