Staff Correspondent
SHILLONG, Jan 29: A crucial border road connecting Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya with Karbi Anglong district in Assam was today opened for traffic following its World Bank-funded upgrade.
The Passyih-Garampani State highway starts from 8th Mile along the Jowai-Ratacherra Road (NH-6) and ends at Saphai near the Meghalaya-Assam border. The total length of the road is 46.982 km.
A portion of this road from 21 km to 47 km (26.982 km) was sanctioned under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project funded by the World Bank. The road passes through several villages including Pyntei, Biar, Chatwakhu, Nongkroh, Lakadong, Theym and Saphai. The total cost of the project is Rs 62.49 crore.
The border areas of Meghalaya have remained undeveloped due to poor connectivity. Meghalaya shares an international border with Bangladesh and an inter-State boundary with Assam.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who inaugurated the upgraded road, said the Government is putting in efforts to upgrade the existing infrastructure and also build new means of connectivity.
