Jijikapara(Meghalaya), April 17: Years of river crossings and narrow-road snarls ended Thursday as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma opened a 90-metre bridge over the Bugi and kicked off a 4-km double-lane upgrade linking NH-51 and NH-62.
The new Bridge No. 5/7 on Sonagre–Jijikapara Road now ties Jijikapara in West Garo Hills to Megua Songmong in South Garo Hills, a link locals called essential after decades of monsoon cut-offs. Built under the World Bank-funded Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project for ₹1,499.95 lakh by M/s MIDAS Construction, it plugs a gap on the 5.30-km road from NH-62 at Dimapara and directly benefits around 6,181 people across 12 villages including Sonagre, Chandapara, Abeagre, Ruga Doldoma and Chokpot.
Right after, the Chief Minister launched widening of the 4-km Kujikura–Dimapara Road to double lane, a ₹2,374.48 lakh State Plan job for 2025–2026 executed by M/s JS & Company. The stretch connects NH-51 at Kujikura to NH-62 at Dimapara and serves Kujikura, Dalu Dapgre, Upper and Lower Bamanpara and Dimapara, covering 2,607 residents.
Calling the bridge a long-felt necessity, the Chief Minister said the state has spent the last eight years pushing roads to remote pockets and growth centres, with focus on underserved areas. He added that tie-ups with the Centre and partner agencies are driving major infrastructure changes across Meghalaya.
