The UPA Government's promise to the people of North-Eastern States to make the artery of seven sisters — National Highway 40 — hassle-free by widening the two-way lane into a four-lane road has proved hollow. Thanks to a long spell of rain in Assam and Meghalaya, and the lackadaisical approach of the Centre, the widening work on the 100-km-long NH 40 between Guwahati and Shillong is moving at a snail's pace.
The widening of this NH was planned in 2010 to bring in prosperity of the region under special schemes known as Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North-East (SARDP-NE).
In fact, it was the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose vision for road infrastructure in the country, especially in N-E States, who had restored the two-way NH 40. Three years ago, it took maximum three hours to cross the 100-km stretch. But now, with construction work at standstill barring at few stretches of the Rs 762-crore project, the travel time has increased almost double.
"Since the region gets continuous rain for six months beginning April, work can be done only for the remaining months. I have been travelling between Guwahati and Shillong for nearly five days a week for the past several years. The condition was better till 2008," said Santosh Umdhian, a taxi operator.
He fondly remembers Vajpayee for having restored the highways in the region. "Now several diversions, landslides, and rain lead to accidents. Dilapidated roads have held back tourists too," complains Thangu laxi, a resident of Umnget Village on NH 40, who runs a dhaba.
During the last three years, less than 20 km on this 100-km stretch on the NH 40 has been widened. Another set of 10-15 km is one-way complete. Travellers use this one-way risking accident while driving in the circuitous valley roads.
The objectives of SARDP-NE is to upgrade National Highways connecting State Capitals to 2/4 lane and provide connectivity to all 88 District Headquarters of N-E States by at least 2-lane road; to improve roads of strategic importance in border area and improve connectivity to neighboring countries.