Members of the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) Southern Border Zone in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya met the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the district on Tuesday, seeking connectivity for the Bataw area to the proposed Rs 22,864 crore Shillong-Silchar high-speed corridor.
The delegation, along with several community leaders from the Bataw region, expressed concern and strong discontent that several villages, including the Umsatai, Pynurkba, Bataw, Umlangsha, Lakadong, Lama, Borghat, Kwator, and Hingaria have allegedly been excluded from the connectivity points of the upcoming project.
According to JSU representatives, earlier surveys indicated that the project aimed at upgrading regional connectivity, would pass through the area. However, they claimed that the villages were later left out of the official project communications and consultations, creating fear of regional economic isolation.
The JSU has urged for the immediate intervention from the DC’s office to review the current alignment to ensure that the Bataw area is included in the strategic infrastructure project.
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Highlighting their concerns, JSU members stated that the affected villages depend on existing routes for trade, livelihoods and access to healthcare services, making direct access to the new corridor crucial.
They also pointed out that current road conditions in the area are poor and woren during the monsoon, further compounding connectivity challenges.
The JSU has called for a transparent review of the NHAI project to ensure the Bataw area is not left behind in the government’s push for improvement prospects.
The 166.80 km, four-lane greenfield high-speed corridor is proposed to connect Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam, enhancing economic growth and regional connectivity in the Northeast region.
The Deputy Commissioner has reportedly assured the delegation that the matter would be examined and appropriate steps taken.
