Jowai, Aug 30: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for construction of road from Kudengrim to Kudengthymmai in Amlarem Block, West Jaintia Hills. Also present on the occasion were Director of Tourism Department, Cyril V.D Diengdoh, and Chief Engineer (Standard) PWD (Roads), B.P Mark.
The construction of the 5.14 KM road from Kudengrim to Kudengthymmai is funded by New Development Bank (NDB) under Meghalaya Eco Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (METIDP) at a cost of Rs. 17.6375 crores as per DPR with Public Works Department (PWD) as the implementing agency of this project.
Addressing the function, Home Minister Rymbui thanked the locals for generously contributing their plot of land for construction of the road for the overall development of the area. “I hope that the road and two bridges that will be constructed will fare well for everyone and will improve tourism in these areas, ” he said.
He said his mission is to improve road connectivity from Shnongpdeng to Amkoi and develop tourism in the area with the availability of land from local people. He called for cooperation from the public for the betterment and development of the constituency.
Director of Tourism, Cyril Diengdoh, said these areas draw lot of tourism as the places are endowed with the natural scenic beauty. He encouraged the people of the area to take advantage of the government schemes available and hoped that with the construction of the long awaited road connectivity the growth of tourism will improve in these areas.
Earlier in the programme, B.P. Mark highlighted the details of the project, informing that the construction of 5.14 km road will provide connectivity to the villages of Konglah, Nongbareh, Amkoi, Kudengrim with the NH 40E. It will also reduce the distance to reach the nearest CHC and College at Nongtalang, Market centre at Dawki and Shillong. He mentioned that apart from reducing road distance, the completion of this road will promote easy transport of agriculture and other products and also promote eco-tourism in the area as there are living root bridges, fish sanctuaries, trekking spots and places endowed with natural scenic beauty.
Under this project, bridges safety provisions have also been incorporated that include construction of Breast Walls and Retaining Walls, Single opening Hume Pipe Culverts at 24 different locations with addition to road safety measures like boards and road marking etc as per the DPR.
