Shillong, March 8: Opposition legislators in Meghalaya today questioned the government over non-repair of dilapidated portions of National Highway 40 as well as collection of toll from commuters in violation of a Supreme Court ruling.
National Highway 40 connecting Shillong and Guwahati is a four-lane highway.
The Guwahati-Shillong road, now known as Jorabat-Umiam Expressway, has become landslide-prone after it was converted into a four-lane highway from Jorabat to Umiam, making travellers feel unsafe.
Some portions are in a dilapidated condition, and this four-lane project has not been fully completed, where construction of a 5.24km bypass at Umsning is in progress.
Interestingly, toll from commuters has already been collected on the highway.
During question hour in the Assembly, Opposition MLA Paul Lyngdoh wanted to know the reasons for not repairing the dilapidated portion of the road by the responsible agency. He also demanded why citizens are being made to pay toll for an incomplete project. PWD (roads) minister M.M. Danggo informed the House that the National Highways Authority of India is responsible for maintenance of the stretch and toll was being collected only for the completed stretch of 56.56km out of the total 61.80km of the four-lane highway.
Danggo said a firm, M/S Jorabat Shillong Expressway Private Limited, is responsible for maintenance of the stretch at Umsning along the highway. To another query by Paul, Danggo said construction of the bypass would be completed by June this year.
Opposition MLA James K. Sangma (NPP) asked the government to observe the Supreme Court's ruling that toll should not be collected on a highway that is in a dilapidated condition.
Danggo reiterated that toll is being collected only for the completed stretch. Independent member Saleng A. Sangma also echoed the other Opposition legislators.
The Supreme Court in its order passed on August 27, 2015, ruled that the NHAI and concessionaires cannot collect toll from commuters if the road is in a bad shape.
Relief for victims: In the Assembly today, home minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an ex gratia payment for those killed and injured in a road accident in West Khasi Hills on February 26.
Nineteen people were killed and 57 injured when an overcrowded truck that ferried over 90 churchgoers overturned at Jadohkhroh in West Khasi Hills. While 12 people died on the spot, seven succumbed to injuries in hospitals.
Replying to a zero hour notice brought by Opposition Hill State People's Democratic Party legislator K.P. Pangniang in the House, Lyngdoh said Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured persons have been sanctioned from the Prime Minister's relief fund.
Lyngdoh also announced that the state government has decided to give an ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to the family of each deceased and Rs 10,000 each to the injured.
