SHILLONG: Days after a video that depicts the alleged substandard construction of the Nongpoh-Umden-Sonapur road went viral across mainstream media and social media platforms, sparking public outrage and sharp criticism, Nongpoh MLA Mayraldborn Syiem has strongly defended the ambitious road project, describing its overall progress as “satisfactory and impressive.”
A video went viral on social media that showed residents peeling off a portions of the road surface by hand at Plasha village, the MLA clarified that in a project spanning over 58 kilometres, minor defects are inevitable and should not be used to discredit the entire initiative.
Demonstrating proactive oversight, Syiem revealed that he had personally identified the defects at the Plasha stretch two to three days before the issue went viral and had already instructed the contractor to rectify the affected sections.
“I had directed the contractor to redo those specific portions during my inspection itself. This is a work in progress—not a completed project that has failed after months,” the MLA asserted.
More than just a road, the MLA hailed the project as a long-awaited lifeline for nearly 150 villages across Ri-Bhoi district. Sanctioned in 2024, the road stretches over 58 km with the Dhar Construction being the main contractor.
The MLA commended Dhar Construction for maintaining momentum despite challenging monsoon and winter conditions, noting that the pace of work suggests the project may be completed ahead of the stipulated deadline.
Syiem made an appeal to the public, urging citizens to report any technical shortcomings directly to authorities or his office instead of immediately resorting to social media.
“We often forget the 99% of excellent work because we focus only on the 1% that needs correction,” he said, calling for constructive engagement rather than public “call-outs.”
Reaffirming his commitment, the MLA assured that every identified deficiency would be addressed promptly, stressing that the goal remains to deliver a durable, high-quality road that truly serves the people of Ri-Bhoi district for generations to come.
