Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced a major breakthrough for a long-delayed road project in Meghalaya, confirming that the crucial Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre road will now be funded by the World Bank. The project, essential for connecting North and East Garo Hills, had faced years of delays due to complex funding issues.
Untangling the Funding Knot
Speaking at a CM Connect programme in Memilam village, North Garo Hills, on Friday, Sangma explained the root cause of the hold-up. He revealed that the previous state government had applied for the same road project under two different schemes of the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
"The ministry of DoNER found that the road was applied for in two parts under two different schemes of the same ministry, and subsequently one of the schemes was cancelled," the Chief Minister stated. This bureaucratic overlap led to significant complications and stalled progress.
Sangma clarified that his administration has been actively coordinating with the Union ministries of DoNER and Finance over the past few years to resolve the impasse and ensure the road's completion.
A Lifeline for 50,000 People
The 44-kilometer road stretch is not just another infrastructure project; it is considered a vital lifeline for nearly 50,000 residents across the Kharkutta and Rongjeng constituencies. Currently, the connectivity is severely hampered.
While approximately 22 kilometers of the road from Rongjeng to beyond Nengkram are partially complete, large sections remain entirely inaccessible. The project's history is marked by financial setbacks.
Originally sanctioned in 2017 for Rs 210 crore under the NLCPR and North East Council (NEC) schemes, it suffered a major blow when the NEC withdrew its component. This move took away Rs 88 crore from the budget, slashing it to just over Rs 123 crore. Compounding the problem, most of the old road had already been dismantled by that time, leaving communities in a lurch.
Broader Infrastructure Push for Garo Hills
The announcement comes alongside other significant infrastructure developments for the region. In a related push to improve connectivity, the Centre last year sanctioned a substantial Rs 1,241 crore for the 63-kilometer Agia–Medhipara-Phulbari-Tura (AMPT) Road in West Garo Hills.
Furthermore, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved Rs 951.27 crore for a new 29.03-kilometer Tura Bypass. This bypass is specifically designed to decongest the district headquarters of Tura town.
The new bypass will feature a two-lane configuration with paved shoulders. It will strategically connect NH-127B to NH-217 (formerly NH-51), the principal artery linking Guwahati to Dalu on the Bangladesh border. The route will begin near Sanchonggre village on NH-127B and end at Jenggitchakgre village on NH-217, effectively skirting the congested urban core of Tura.
The resolution of the funding issue for the Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre road, coupled with these other projects, signals a concerted effort to transform the transportation network and boost economic prospects in Meghalaya's Garo Hills region.
