Restoration of Garo Hills most damaged highway gets underway
Tura, March 3: One of the most dilapidated state highway roads in the Garo Hills that has been an eyesore and a back-breaking experience for travellers, for close to a decade, is finally witnessing a transformation.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday laid the foundation for the upgradation and improvement of the parallel road to the existing Dalu-Baghmara road.
Foundation laid for improvement of parallel road to existing Dalu-Baghmara road under Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project. This road is crucial for international trade, connecting 2 districts in Meghalaya. A long-awaited project, fulfilled yet again by MDA Govt@nitin_gadkari pic.twitter.com/o9MMHeYc1v
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 3, 2021
Spanning across 20.853 Kms, the total cost of the project funded under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP) is Rs. 43,45,27, 900.00/- (Rupees Forty-Three Crores Forty-Five Lakhs Twenty Seven Thousand Nine Hundred) with 36 months kept as target of completion from the start date. The scope of work also includes the construction of 5 RCC bridges.
The poorly maintained Tura-Dalu-Baghmara road had been a major electoral issue for the public of the area during the 2018 state elections.
Inspected the Tura-Dalu road funded by #JICA through @MORTHIndia and under construction by @nhidcl. Happy to see due diligence by the contractors and NHIDCL team to ensure swift completion of the project which we target to complete in the next 12 months. @nitin_gadkari pic.twitter.com/dk02MfAf4L
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 3, 2021
“This is a long-awaited project, that will be fulfilled yet again by the MDA Government. This road is crucial for international trade and commerce and will connect 2 districts- West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills Districts in Meghalaya. This will greatly impact the socio-economic development of the region, which is rich in agricultural and horticultural produce, which is being supplied across the State and other States by the villagers and farmers on foot. We also hope that through this project, the youth will be encouraged to become Entrepreneurs in the Agri and Horti sector” said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma as he laid the base for starting of the project.
The condition of the road was so deteriorated that what once took 3 hours travel became a harrowing 6-7 hour journey between Tura and Baghmara, district headquarters of South Garo Hills.
The damage to the road has been most felt from Dalu-Barengapara towards Baghmara.
Lashing out at skeptics who have been targetting his Government over the vast initiation of development projects and packages, chief minister Conrad Sangma returned fire, saying “There is talk among the people that the MDA NPP Government will also just lay foundation stones and fail to complete the projects. I want to reassure the people of Dalu and Baghmara that the MDA Government and the NPP Government is not here to dupe you.The MDA Government and NPP Government is here to fulfill the promises made to the people.”
He added that he has already directed the PWD to ensure quality work is maintained under the stipulated time frame.
The road starts from NH 217 at Dalu Chaipani, ending at Baghmara with a total length of 31 km (up to Sibbari) under Barengapara Division. This road runs along the International Border with Bangladesh and connects important villages like Chaipani and Baburambil in West Garo Hills and Jatrakona, Sempara, Lower Gauapara, Angratuli, Khondok. Fakirkona, Dumnikura, Ramchenga. Kapasipara, Dipliparara and Sibbari in South Garo Hills.
This road is also used by the BSF for their daily patrolling along the Indo-Bangla Border. The export of coal to Bangladesh is done through Gasuapara Land Custom Station and coal depots are on the 11th and 13th Kms of this road. This road project was demanded by the people of both the districts for many years and will finally see the light of day.
The Dalu to Baghmara Border parallel road was neglected for so many years despite its importance for the people of the area and trade and businesses to flourish.
The World Bank funded the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project amount for the entire State to the tune of 1100 Cr for various projects out of which 43 Cr has been sanctioned for this particular state highway.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also recalled that during the last three years the MDA Government has initiated a lot of developmental projects in the State. Recently the government initiated the improvement of the Rongram Dadengre Phulbari road which was is in a state of neglect for more than 70 years. This ‘hill road’ road is a lifeline for more than 40 villages along the route.
The government has also mooted plans to operationalise the Baljek airport. If not anything else atleast the flight services from Tura to Shillong will be operationalised by 2022 to coincide with the 50 years celebration of Meghalaya’s Statehood.
The Chief Minister said that in the coming two years a lot of developmental projects are already lined up for Garo Hills and the entire State as a whole.
