Shillong, Jan 21: Meghalaya celebrated its 53rd year of Statehood in a big way on Tuesday with a series of events to mark the occasion, particularly the laying of foundation for a new state-of-the-art government Secretariat complex at Umsawli in New Shillong by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
“This won’t just be a Secretariat. This will be a symbol that we, as a government and as a state and as people, can dare to dream big. It is a symbol of the aspirations that we have as a society and as a state and as a government. It is a symbol of hope that we would like to give to the people of the state”, stated the chief minister while laying the base for the complex in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Cabinet Ministers Abu Taher Mondal, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Marcuise Marak and Comingone Ymbon.
The secretariat is coming up on a 53 acre plot at a cost of ₹ 1188 Crore. The Secretariat and Directorate campus at New Shillong administrative township will be constructed in two phases. The complex will have 68 offices, a 700 person capacity auditorium, and a facility for 1829 staff.
The foundation of the new secretariat on the 53rd Statehood Day, symbolises Government’s commitment to accelerate and push development of infrastructure in the state, and Conrad Sangma pointed out that more than the building and its construction, “It will also be the expansion of the city of Shillong.”
The phase 2 complex with 1.25 lakh sq.m of floor area will accommodate the directorates with 56 offices, facility for 4746 staff, and 2 auditoriums of 200 person capacity each.
On the design of the new secretariat, he said, “This is not a video that has been made out of AI. This is an actual design of the real building that is going to come up out here, which has taken us more than a year to actually finalize”, he said.
Terming the administrative and knowledge city, which is coming up in New Shillong as a “growth centre”, he said, “…while we invest in this Secretariat, we invest in the multiple roads connecting the existing city to this new administrative city. From this administrative city to the new knowledge city, we are laying the foundation for the community, for the people, for the landowners in about 30 sqkm to develop this entire new Shillong into a major growth center for our state”.
He further informed that 5500 Cr investment has already been planned out in the new Shillong area by the government, including close to additional 10,000 Cr investment in offing.
“This investment will completely transform new Shillong city”, he said while adding that the secretariat building will act as a catalyst to ensure that we are able to take this dream of ours forward.
Stating that many will negate the idea of construction of a new secretariat building, the chief minister said, “We are not only focusing on building infrastructure for the future of the state but have accorded equal thrust towards social sectors”.
“Our flagship schemes on youth, farmers and women is ensuring that we raise the living standard of our people. The overall economy of the state has been given a new impetus that is accelerating growth and development. This government is working towards overall development of our state,” the chief minister added.
Speaking on the occasion, Dy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar said that the new infrastructure is being laid to empower the future of the state.
Dy CM Prestone Tynsong said that the new secretariat has been envisioned by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to ensure that administration and governance would be efficiently operated from the New Shillong city.
“We never thought that a new secretariat would have been possible but our beloved CM didn’t just dream but made it into reality to further accelerate progress and development”, said Dy CM Tynsong.
On the occasion, the chief minister released a social sector scheme amounting to ₹63 Cr for 6000 beneficiaries under CM Elevate, Focus, Green Meghalaya + and tourism infrastructure projects.
