Shillong, Jan 11: Although the construction of the crucial double-lane Umpling  Bridge has been slow due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the bridge will be completed and opened to traffic by March 2022. This was informed  by Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Charles Pyngrope after reviewing the ongoing construction work on Tuesday.

The expansion work to convert the bridge into a double lane has been underway for three years and is seen as crucial to ease traffic congestion in Shillong city, relating to vehicles going towards NEIGRIHMS.

The PAC inspected the double laning of the bridge and the internal roads connecting Shillong city with the New Shillong Township. The panel also inspected and reviewed the progress of the Nongrah Water Supply Scheme.

“We have been informed by the end of March, we will be able to use it which means the connector will be opened,” Pyngrope said while sharing that a little time was lost due to delay in bringing the bearings where the bridge sits. The capacity of the bridge is 70 metric tons.

He also mentioned that despite the delay in completion of the project, there hasn’t been any escalation in the project cost. The cost of the project is Rs 4.35 crore.

Work on internal roads slow

On the construction of the internal roads in the area, Pyngrope said that sanctions have been made and some works have been carried out but that was very slow.

“We have been informed today all the schemes that were proposed under the rehabilitation or reconstruction of roads have been allotted to the contractors – that is one good step in the right direction. Now it is upto the contractors to start and get the ball rolling,” he said.

Stating that these roads are feeding new Shillong, Pyngrope asserted, “We cannot take it lightly as it is not a question of Nongrah, Umpling or anybody. If you want decongestion of Shillong, you have to take special attentions of all these roads.”

Slow progress on Nongrah Water Supply Scheme

As far as the Nongrah Water Supply Scheme is concerned, the PAC chairman said the project is a major concern as it was sanctioned way back in 2017-18.

He said the progress of work has been slowed down due to the nature of the soil which is more of rock in the area where they have chosen to build the raw water sub, which is the main reservoir that takes all the water from different sources.

“However, we were informed that by this year, though not very immediate, we will be able to draw water…for the residents of Nongrah village itself,” Pyngrope said.

Another bridge over the Umkaliar

Meanwhile, he also revealed that the deputy chief minister has indicated that there is also a proposal for construction of another bridge over the Umkaliar that is from MES to Umpling and again connecting Ishyrwat.

“That is large and the total cost of that approximately at today’s rate will be Rs 70 crore but that is also a very important feeder bridge to ease the congestion from Shillong to NEIGRIHMS. That proposal will be put up in the next budget session,” he said.