Delay attributed to ‘complex and unique design’ of the dome
Shillong, Dec 4: The Meghalaya Assembly will have to wait till the autumn session in August next year to function from its new building at Mawdiangdiang as the deadline for the long-pending project has been extended by another 100 days.
As such the next budget session cannot be held as planned in the new assembly building.
The High-Power Committee (HPC) looking after the project on Wednesday decided to extend the timeline further keeping in view the “complex and unique design of the dome” of the assembly.
The dome, which collapsed in May 2022 making national headlines and delaying the project further, has been redesigned for the main structure to withstand its weight.
The earlier dome design was suspended on a platform and weighed 3,000 metric tons. Now, the new design places the dome’s structure on the main beams and foundation, reducing the weight to 85 metric tons.
“This change ensures greater stability and addresses seismic safety, rain leakage, and long-term maintenance concerns,” said chief minister Conrad K Sangma after the HPC meeting chaired by assembly speaker Thomas A Sangma.
The new assembly building is envisioned as an iconic and functional structure, designed to provide a conducive working environment with adequate space for legislators, staff, and political parties, stated an official release.
“The HPC has agreed on a 100-day extension, making it impossible to hold the Budget Session as originally planned. However, we remain optimistic about completing the project by the Autumn Session of 2025,” the chief minister said.
Underscoring the need for meticulous planning during construction to avoid recurrence of any mishap, he said, “The work is progressing well, but we have faced challenges. Engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), the Project Management Consultant (PMC), and contractors have held multiple reviews to address every detail.”
Earlier, speaking to reporters, the assembly speaker said, “The progress so far is satisfactory, but we are proceeding very slowly and carefully because of the unique structural design of the main hall dome. There is no similar design in this part of the country. We cannot afford to rush and risk another mishap,” said the Speaker.
The meeting was also attended deputy speaker Timothy D Shira, deputy chief ministers Prestone Tynsong (in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and PWD-Building) and Sniawbhalang Dhar (in charge of Urban Affairs), legislators Charles Pyngrope, Lahkmen Rymbui, and Banteidor Lyngdoh, chief secretary DP Wahlang, assembly commissioner and secretary Dr Andrew Simons, and other officials.
He further added, “A structural engineer has already been posted at the site to ensure quality control. Initially, we hoped to hold the budget session here, but we regret that the sensitive work still pending won’t allow us to do so. Instead, we aim to complete the project and inaugurate the building before the autumn session of 2025.”
“The majority of the pending work involves the dome. It includes extensive steel structures being welded and fixed, which takes time and precision,” the Speaker noted.
