Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of public works Prestone Tynsong said in Shillong on 26 August that 97 per cent physical progress had been achieved on the ongoing Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre road being constructed under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR). He noted the project was sanctioned in 2017 and that the stipulated time for completion had been 24 months from issue of the final work order.

The deputy chief minister informed the assembly that the government had decided to include the remaining work under a World Bank project. In reply to a query from Rongjeng MLA Jim M Sangma on delays, he explained that changes to scope were directed by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. He said the original sanction had been for Rs 2.1 billion (bn) to be funded by the Ministry and the North Eastern Council, but the final administrative approval was for Rs 1.2328 bn.

Officials clarified that the reduction in the detailed project report concerned length rather than width, with the stretch reduced from 28 kilometres to 22 kilometres. The chief minister provided a supplementary explanation that of the Rs 2.1 bn, Rs 1.2 bn related to the NLCPR component and Rs 0.8 bn to the NEC component, and that the Ministry later stated it could not sanction the same project under two separate heads. Following a change of secretary the state opted for the Rs 1.2 bn head and submitted other projects to cover the Rs 0.8 bn component.

The deputy chief minister said the revised project report had been revisited and amended to align with the final administrative approval and that there had been no unilateral decision by the state to reduce scope. The leader of the opposition urged that the state lodge a strong protest against the Centre's reversal, and the government indicated it had registered its protest but complied with the Ministry's directive. Nine years after sanction, the road is nearly complete and authorities intend to bring the remaining works under the World Bank project to ensure timely completion.