Boko: Villagers from several areas in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills District have raised concerns over the movement of overloaded trucks, particularly coal-laden ones, on the newly constructed Riangdo-Athiabari-Hahim-Boko road. The road, which connects Meghalaya and Assam, is still under construction, and residents fear that heavy trucks will damage it before it is completed.
“We got a new road after 19 years, but it is still incomplete. We have noticed that some overloaded trucks, especially those carrying coal, are using this route. If this continues, the road will be damaged again, and we will suffer once more,” alleged Dering Tyrsa, a resident of Umsohpieng village.
Villagers from Umsohpieng, Myndo, Mawtirang, and Pursohan, under the Mawsynrut constituency in West Khasi Hills District, staged a protest on the Riangdo-Hahim road on Thursday night. They urged the Meghalaya government to take immediate action to prevent overloaded trucks from using the road.
“We have no problem if all the trucks comply with weight regulations. However, many trucks are overloaded. When we questioned coal-laden truck drivers, they admitted to carrying more than the permissible limit,” said Pynshai Lyndoh, another resident of Umsohpieng village.
The villagers emphasized the importance of completing the road, which they believe will greatly benefit people on both sides of the Assam-Meghalaya border. “This road is a lifeline for us, especially during medical emergencies. In the past, we faced immense difficulties transporting patients to hospitals in Boko (Assam) or Nongstoin (Meghalaya). Now, with the under-construction road, there is a ray of hope. Our children will be able to go to schools and colleges without the troubles we faced before 2021. Therefore, we request the government to take strict action against overloaded trucks,” the villagers added.
Construction of the Riangdo-Hahim road, which spans approximately 37 kilometers, began in 2021. Before that, the road was in a deplorable state, making travel extremely difficult. This vital route connects the West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya with Assam’s Kamrup District and links two state highways: the Tura-Shillong Highway in Meghalaya and the Guwahati-Goalpara Highway in Assam.
Police sources in Meghalaya stated that they regularly inspect trucks using weighbridges, in collaboration with officials from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR). “While people might suspect that trucks are overloaded, most vehicles passing through are within the permissible weight limit,” the sources said.
Despite these assurances, villagers remain apprehensive about the long-term impact of overloaded trucks on the newly constructed road. They reiterated their demand for stricter monitoring to ensure the road’s longevity and to protect the community’s interests.
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