Meghalaya May Lose Road Projects Due to Land Acquisition Delays: Reports

Guwahati: Meghalaya authorities have faced criticism and potential cancellation of projects due to issues in land acquisition for key road projects.

After meeting the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma confirmed the ministry’s concerns over the slow pace of land acquisition in Meghalaya.

While the state is almost ready to acquire land for the Shillong Western Bypass, some sections remain problematic.

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The ministry also expressed concern over unresolved forest clearing problems, but the prime minister assured that 90 percent of them had been resolved and the remaining ones would be resolved within a few months.

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MoRTH expressed its strong disapproval of the delays and suggested avoiding areas where there are significant obstacles to land acquisition.

Sangma further raised concerns over the ambitious Umiam-Silchar four-lane road project, where preliminary studies for the high-speed rail corridor have reached a standstill on some stretches.