To celebrate the 53rd Statehood Day the Meghalaya government today unveiled a foundation stone for the new Secretariat building at Umsawli, New Shillong.
The foundation stone was officially laid by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in the presence of cabinet ministers.
The Secretariat is being built in a 53 acre plot with an estimated cost of Rs 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 facility for 1829 staff.
The phase-2 complex with 1.25 lakh sqm of floor area will accommodate the directorates with 56 offices, facility for 4,746 staff, and two auditoriums of 200 person capacities each.
“It is not just a building and a construction that is going to happen. It is the expansion of the city of Shillong,” the chief minister said after laying the foundation stone.
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 centre for our state”.
He further informed that Rs 5,500 crore investments has already been planned out in the new Shillong area by the government, including close to additional Rs 10,000 crore investment in the offing.
“This investment will completely transform the new Shillong city. The secretariat building will act as a catalyst to ensure that we are able to take this dream of ours forward,” he said, adding, “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.”
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 are 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.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said that the new infrastructure is being laid to empower the future of the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the new secretariat has been envisioned by the chief minister 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”, Tynsong said.
On the occasion, the chief minister released a social sector scheme amounting to Rs 63 crore for 6000 beneficiaries under CM Elevate, Focus, Green Meghalaya + and tourism infrastructure projects.
