NH-40 connects the Meghalaya capital with Guwahati and extends to Jowai in Jaintia Hills and Barak valley up to Tripura and Mizoram thorough National Highway-44.
The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 536 crore for four- laning a 61.80 km stretch of this highway from Jorabat to Barapani. Out of the budget, Rs 167 crore has already been paid as land compensation. Work began this year and was moving smoothly till it reached Umsning in Ri-Bhoi district.
NGOs from Ri-Bhoi district clubbed as Joint Action Committee (JAC) want the original alignment at Umsning prepared by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to be maintained. JAC comprises of Khasi Students’ Union, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People and other NGOs.
JAC has once again called a three consecutive night road blockade in the district from September 28 to pressurise the State Government to give up its plan to construct the highway from the existing road at Umsning. However, today they called off the stir in view of the Pujas and golden jubilee celebration of St Michael Secondary School in the area.
However, some land holders and church leaders from Umsning are opposed to the NHAI’s bypass proposal, saying, that the route would affect agricultural land and a church.
Today, another NGO, Ri-Bhoi Students’ Union (RBSU) opposed the JAC’s demand and said the highway must be constructed from the existing road at Umsning.
Calling the JAC’s demand as “unrealistic”, RBSU said, it would affect a church and small land holders. RBSU president said, the government took the decision to realign the bypass after taking into consideration the representations from church leaders, village headmen and landowners.