Meghalaya: NPP MLA Momin claims ‘good roads are coming’ in North Garo Hills

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Amidst mounting public discontent over the dismal road infrastructure in Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills, NPP legislator from Kharkutta Constituency, Rupert Momin, has confirmed that he has held discussions with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma regarding the pressing issue of poor road connectivity in North Garo Hills—particularly those linking the region with neighbouring Assam. Momin revealed that CM Sangma has already taken up the matter with his Assam counterpart in a bid to ensure smooth transportation and regional development.

“I have discussed with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and he is taking up with his Assam counterpart. Almost all the North Garo Hills roads connecting with Assam are being taken up with the Assam CM,” Momin said, while flagging the impact of poor roads on interstate movement of local produce. “A very small portion of road has to be repaired and I discussed with CM that it should be intermediate road because many production goes from Garo Hills to Assam. The transportation is affected if the road condition is not good. Some initiation has started,” he added.

Positioning North Garo Hills as a frontier of development and economic exchange, the Kharkutta legislator said, “North Garo Hills is a very young district, it’s a border of Assam and gateway of Garo Hills. Yes, before 2018 we have not seen much of road connectivity, but then after 2018 till date our government is working hard and there are connectivity like Damra in Assam and Bajengdoba in Meghalaya which is intermediate road.”

He highlighted critical infrastructure progress, asserting, “We have two major bridges in Resubelpara already completed, even in Kharkutta area we have two or three major bridges under construction. All around North Garo Hills, now the road connectivity is mostly we have connected all the villages. Yes, one or two villages are there which are not connected but that also already on the process of survey.”

Responding to concerns raised over the deteriorating condition of roads in Resubelpara, Momin claimed, “Last week I visited Resubelpara, the main Resubelpara town—there are projects like beautification, so with intermediate road with drain and footpath are about to complete. There are some roads which are in villages, there are some bad roads there, but all around Resubelpara I could see that the roads are good now.”

Exuding confidence in future infrastructure development, he said, “By 2028, definitely road infrastructure in North Garo Hills will be improved because World Bank also initiating the process from Resubelpara to Songsak, and Kharkutta, Mendipathar, Bajengdoba. So I see road connectivity more or less is in good condition and it will improve.”

Momin further pointed to the larger logistical challenge of cross-border road maintenance, stating, “We have border and maximum areas are with Assam border and sometime back, I wrote a letter to Assam Chief Minister through Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. There are some processes going on because approach road from Assam to Meghalaya—some roads are in very bad condition like 12 kms Dhupdhara to Adokgre, 5 kms Darranggri to Kharkutta, 15 kms of Krishnai to Resubelpara, and around 15 kms road from Krishnai to Mendipathar.”

Reiterating his earlier point, he concluded, “I have discussed with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and he is taking up with his Assam counterpart. Almost all the North Garo Hills roads connecting with Assam are being taken with Assam CM. A very small portion of road has to be repaired and I was discussed with CM that it should be intermediate road because many production goes from Garo Hills to Assam. The transportation is affected if the road condition is not good. Some initiation has started.”

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