truck movement along the National Highway 44, which passes through Shillong, is at present put on hold for 12 hours a day. Trucks are stopped from 9.30 am to 12.30 am and again from 2.30 pm to 6 pm at one of the junctions in Nongpoh to properly regulate traffic on the Guwahati - Shillong Road (GS Road). This decision was taken in view of police personnel facing great difficulty in manning traffic on this particular stretch of NH-40. In a move to ease traffic congestion along the Guwahati-Shillong Road, Ri-Bhoi district police have decided to stop coal-laden trucks at one of the junctions in Nongpoh. The proposed two-lane bypass is expected to not only ease traffic congestion in Shillong city but also make the daily affairs of the locals simpler and less time consuming. It will be a 47.06 km stretch from National Highway 40 at Umiam in Ri-Bhoi district to National Highway 44 at Mawryngkneng in the East Khasi Hills district.

Tragically though, in spite of all the chanting of the Shillong bypass mantra, the government has not been able to change the religion of complacency on the grounds of the region. 20 years has not been enough time for this much needed bypass to become a reality.

The last date for tenders for the project was set as the 30th of October and apprehensions were rife as very little was heard about any progress as such. The Chief engineer of National Highway also added that they are responsible only for putting up pillars for the foundation and all the other responsibility is with the NHAI.

“A big hurdle in the way of the implementation of roads and highway projects is the availability of finance. However, for the Shillong bypass project, bids have already been invited. Bidders have shown keen interest in the project and it is likely that the project would be awarded soon and work will start on annuity basis by the end of this year,” an official said.

Referring to the inordinate delay in constructing the road, the peculiar condition of the Northeastern region should be considered to expedite the work. After prolonged delays, interference and red tape for years, firms had handed in tenders for the construction of the Shillong bypass. However, for the last several years there were no bidders for the vital project worth Rs 220.35 crore. This may be due to the fact that since a project can start only after 80 percent of the land has been acquired, the problems of land acquisition and red tape had delayed the projects for these twenty years. Earlier, land for the bypass had been acquired and the total compensation paid to land owners by NHAI is Rs 5, 47, 20312. It is also common knowledge that the land for the bypass had already been acquired and compensation has been paid to land owners. Sources state that the land was handed over to NHAI in April last year.

There is hope though which is seen from the call for tenders for the project and the Union Minister for Water Resources Mr. Vincent Pala revealing that 13 firms have been short - listed for the Rs. 220.35 crore Shillong Bypass project which will operate on an annuity basis rather than the earlier proposed Build Operate Transfer (BOT) model. Under this annuity basis, the firm selected for the project will make the total investment on the project which is to be repaid to it by the government in due time.

The Project will be executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) once the Union transport ministry sanctions. The proposal will be sent to the Union finance ministry for approval. NHAI has promised to construct nine bridges to complete the bypass. The Shillong bypass has also been entrusted to the NHAI for its development in two phases viz. a two-lane by-pass in the first phase and four-lane by-pass in the second phase.

Of course, project overruns are business as usual in a country where timely delivery of anything is an exception rather than a rule. But this religion is causing great loss by way of economic development and is also making  life very difficult for the truckers. The truckers have to make it through the city area within the scheduled time and this compels them to push the boundaries of both human and mechanical ability which is directly related the high volume of accidents along the narrow and winding GS Road. These accidents have become a daily routine on the GS road which causes immense loss of life and property.

The road transport system is the primary mode of communication in Meghalaya and plays a major role in the socio-economic development of the state. Meghalaya is basically an agricultural state where about 70% of the population lives in rural areas. Therefore, for the overall progress of the state, a good road network with increased village connectivity is a must.

The lack of project management capability of the government has led to the ill consequences that the state is facing in the transportation sector. It is not that solutions are hard to find, it is just a matter of perseverance.

With regard to the need of improvement of road connectivity in the rural areas and also the quality of rural roads, out of 5782 numbers of villages in the state, 2971 numbers are connected by road. The State Government has appealed to the Central Government for the construction of a four lane National Highway from Jorabat to Barapani which will only add to the effectiveness of the Shillong bypass if and when it becomes a reality. This, we hope, will help solve the traffic congestion on the National Highway and Shillong city.

When officials were questioned about the poor condition of the highway, it was said that the condition of the road had become deplorable mainly because the department did not receive any sanctions from the government for carrying out maintenance and repair jobs during the last two years.

The crux of the matter is that if the project is completed in time, it will act as a stimulus to growth by cutting down the rural-urban gap, decreasing the traffic congestion, bringing agriculture and industry together and bring prosperity to the region. Considering all these benefits, one can only wonder what the hold up is and why the bypass is not already in place and running.

With the Union Minister for Water Resources Vincent Pala’s information, people are now beginning to once again believe that this project will soon become a reality. On hearing the great news, one can’t help but wonder if this indeed is the light at the end of a two decade long tunnel? Is it possible that this much needed and long awaited bypass project is finally underway? Or, is it just another stuttering step in a journey that is far from conclusion?