6,340 trees planted across proposed 16.6-km-long Ummir Junction–Mawkhanur corridor
Shillong, Jan 20: In what can be one of its kind green infrastructure projects in the North East, the state government has launched an ambitious avenue plantation project to build New Shillong as an exemplary climate-resilient city.
Started in 2025, the government plans to plant around 6,000 trees across over 25 km of roads and 2 km of medians in the next five years.
The project aims at transforming the upcoming township into one of the region’s greenest urban centres and ensure that rapid urban development does not come at the cost of ecology.
The plantation drive will stretch along key arterial routes in New Shillong Township, including Ummir Junction–Mawkhanur corridor, where 10,000 plants have been targeted, with 6,340 already planted across a proposed road length of 16.56 km.
Unlike routine beautification drives, the project is being positioned as a green infrastructure intervention. According to an official document, the plantations are expected to reduce air pollution, mitigate the urban heat island effect, control soil erosion, improve road safety and aesthetics.
“These green avenues will make New Shillong a city that blends progress with ecological balance”, the document says.
Pollution-tolerant native species suited to Meghalaya’s climate are being prioritised to regulate microclimates, provide shade, and enhance biodiversity along city roads.
Officials describe the project as part of a broader effort to build New Shillong as a city that “blends progress with ecological balance.”
The avenue design includes layered plantations—trees for shade and shrubs for visibility and safety—aimed at making daily commuting safer and more pleasant.
Community participation has also been built into the plan, with local involvement in planting, training, and long-term maintenance expected to generate employment and ensure sustainability.
To avoid the fate of many short-lived plantation drives, the state has proposed long-term monitoring mechanisms, including survival rates, canopy growth and air-quality indicators.
Over time, these green corridors are expected to contribute to improved urban health, local biodiversity, and overall liveability.
As New Shillong takes shape as Meghalaya’s future administrative and urban hub, the plantation drive signals a clear message: the state wants growth, but not at the cost of green cover.
