Santosh inaugurated tunnel at Sonapur

Dev, Raju open tunnel at Sonapur
From our Staff ReporterSILCHAR, Sept 29: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Sontosh Mohan Dev and Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju formally inaugurated the RCC-cut-and-cover tunnel at landslide-prone Sonapur in Meghalaya today. Terming the occasion as historical, Dev urged the BRO authorities to put up a marble plaque there in the memory of the four persons who had been killed in a landslide on June 4, 2001 at the spot. The Rs 15-crore 120-metre-long tunnel was constructed in a record time of ten months after its sanction. Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, who was supposed to inaugurate the tunnel, was conspicuous by his absence. None of his ministerial colleagues was also present in the inaugural function held inside the tunnel. Raju said the BRO will take the condition of soil of this region into consideration before initiating any major work as the soil of the Northeast has unique features. BRO Director General AK Nanda said the tunnel in Sonapur was a major challenge for them. Dev said traffic is disrupted at Sonapur due to perennial problems of rain and landslide, and accumulation of mud and debris on the road. A Bailey bridge was commissioned at a cost of Rs 2 crore at Malidahar on May 31, Dev said, and added a permanent bridge at a cost of Rs 6 crore is under construction, and will be ready next year. source: sentinel assam