1. ₹2,366 crore road project in Meghalaya under investigation for corruption allegations.
2. Involves collusion between state engineers and private contractors.
3. The project intended to connect Shillong, Tura, Nongstoin, and Rongjeng faces fraud accusations.
Shillong, Oct 22: A ₹2,366 crore road construction project in Meghalaya has come under criminal investigation following allegations of widespread corruption involving state engineers and private contractors.
The project, aimed at connecting Shillong to Tura via Nongstoin and Rongjeng, has been marred by accusations of fraudulent activities.
An FIR has been lodged, naming nine individuals, including senior Public Works Department (PWD) engineers and officials from private companies in Telangana and Haryana.
PWD Chief Engineer AM Kharmawphlang filed the complaint based on evidence revealed during ongoing arbitration proceedings. The FIR accuses the parties of fabricating records, cheating, and causing substantial losses to public funds.
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Initially approved in 2010 under the Special Road Development Programme-North East, the project saw its costs escalate from ₹1,303 crore to ₹2,366 crore due to multiple revisions. Originally slated for completion in 2014, the road remains unfinished.
The FIR highlights how officials and contractors colluded to significantly damage the public exchequer.
The investigation was triggered when private contractors pursued arbitration after the PWD rejected their demands for contract revisions.
Authorities have confirmed that a full investigation is underway to uncover the scale of the corruption.
