The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday agreed to give 12.45 acres of land for the up-gradation of the important Shillong-Dawki national highway.
The NH 40 starts from Jorabat and terminates at Tamabil (Dawki) on the Indo-Bangla border. The highway is 162.661 km-long.
Ajay Kumar, the defence secretary, on Tuesday afternoon tweeted that the ministry has agreed to give 12.45 acres land at Rilbong in Village Shillong for up-gradation of NH 40.
Kumar, a senior IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, who is at present the defence secretary, said the the plot of land was a long standing requirement of the NHIDCL.
The NH 40 consists of two sections — the Guwahati – Shillong (G.S.) section and the Shillong – Tamabil section.
The Guwahati – Shillong section of NH 40 has been upgraded to four lanes (up to Barapani) and has been entrusted to the National Highway Authority of India.
The portion of NH-40 from Barapani (61.800 Km) to Tamabil (162.661 Km) is a two lane road and is under the maintenance of Meghalaya PWD.
MoD agrees to give 12.45 acres (12 IAF 0.45) land in Ribong Village Shillong Meghalaya for upgradation of NH 40 from Shillong to Dawki meeting long standing requirement. @nhidcl to undertake the work. @SpokespersonMoD @adgpi @IAF_MCC @proshillong @MORTHIndia @DefenceMinIndia
— Ajay Kumar (@drajaykumar_ias) April 21, 2020
The stretch of the national highway from Rilbong Point (82 km) to Dawki (161.62 km), including construction of Dawki Bridge, has already been cleared for JICA funding.
The feasibility study for up-gradation of the highway, including geometric improvement, was conducted by M/s Transys Consulting Private Limited, New Delhi.
And after the feasibility study was completed, the NHIDCL had requested the Ministry of Defence for 12.45 acres of land for up-gradation of the highway.
The highway is the approach road to go to Cherrapunjee, Nongstoin and Mawkyrwat.
