Poonam Nath

NHIDCL faces issues over Shillong Western Bypass enactment; residents' complaints over settlement issues

Digital Desk: The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has been experiencing issues constructing the Shillong Western Bypass project due to residents' complaints over compensation issues.

The people in Umraleng refuse to allow the implementing agency to complete the work, despite attempts to persuade them otherwise.

Notably, it's been told that due to rough terrain and greenfield alignment, the opposition has made it difficult for the implementing agency.

It is to be mentioned that the Shillong Western Bypass, a 38.256-kilometer route in Meghalaya, intends to ease traffic congestion in the state capital. Moreover, the project is designed to connect Lad Umsaw in Ri Bhoi district with Lad Mawreng in the East Khasi Hills area.

The project will likely be postponed as a result of the failure of the Ri-Bhoi district administration to settle the issue.

Similar problems are occurring in another part of package 3 of the Shillong-Dawki road project, where the East Khasi Hills administration has been unable to compensate landowners, which has driven villagers to oppose.

According to the most recent information, the Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister declared in May 2024 that NHIDCL has received a portion of the project's land. Some landowners, however, are dissatisfied with the payment they have received for their property, and Ri-Bhoi has outlawed protests against the Shillong Western Bypass's construction.

The project's objective is to lessen Shillong's traffic congestion.