Government-owned National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHICDL) has invited tender for the proposed road expansion of National Highway-40 that provides vital link between Meghalaya and Bangladesh.
The Rs 1,251-crore road project is being funded by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and in-charge PWD (Roads), Prestone Tynsong, said that NHIDCL has invited the tender into four packages. “Each package of the tender will cost not less than Rs 120 crore,” he said.
Widening of the 71 km-long NH-40 will begin from Shillong upto Dawki.
A 368 metre-length and 12.5 metre-width bridge will be built to replace the existing British-era suspension bridge.
Out of 71 km, the highway will be converted into four-lane for about 15 km from Umshyrpi bridge to Baniun, 7th Miles, Upper Shillong, while the rest of the stretch will be double lane.
The Ministry of Defence has agreed to part 12.45 acres of land in Ribong village for upgradation of NH-40 from Shillong to Dawki meeting long standing requirement.
The National Highway – 40 starts from Jorabat and terminates at Tamabil (Dawki) on the edge of the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district. The highway is 162.661 km-long.
The stretch of the national highway from Rilbong Point (82 km) to Dawki (161.62 km), including construction of Dawki Bridge, has already been cleared for JICA funding.
