The State government will spend Rs 200 crore for preparation of a master plan for the administrative city at New Shillong Township at Umsawli including construction of the new secretariat building and other government offices.
This was shown in the Supplementary Demands for Grants and Supplementary Appropriation for the year 2023-2024 tabled by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma during the first day of the ongoing autumn session of the Assembly on September 15.
The explanatory note of the Supplementary Demands for Grants stated that a total amount of Rs 200 crore under the State Urban Infrastructure Development Initiative is required for the preparation of master plan for the administrative city at New Shillong Township and construction of the new administration secretariat and administrative blocks at the New Shillong Township, Umsawli.
“The requirement could not be met out of the budget provision during the current financial year as the amount provided is not sufficient. Hence, the supplementary demand,” it said.
The Supplementary Demands for Grants and Supplementary Appropriation for the year 2023-2024 will be passed by the Assembly on September 22.
Last year on January 17, the cabinet had approved the relocation of the State secretariat to the New Shillong Township. The government has also acquired 807.7 acres of land for the purpose.
Earlier this year, the State government had floated a tender for selection of an agency for preparation of a master plan for the administrative city in the New Shillong Township.
The State government has also proposed for construction of a Unity Mall in New Shillong Township, alongside the new Administrative City which will include business district, and regional tourism and hospitality hub. A land parcel of around 17 acres has been allocated for the Unity Mall.
The estimated cost of the project as per the DPR is Rs 431 crore and the allocation to the State from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is Rs 132 crore. The DPR for this project was submitted to the Ministry on June 30, 2023.
Recently, the Central government has allocated Rs 146.79 crore for construction of a new four-lane road and the conversion of an existing two-lane road into a four-lane avenue in New Shillong Township. This includes the integration of cycling tracks, utility ducts, footpaths, and other essential features aimed at enhancing urban mobility and convenience within the township.
The amount was allocated from the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) to revitalise the New Shillong Township’s infrastructure.
The State government has already acquired about 1700 acres of land for building the New Shillong City and institutes like the IIM Shillong and NIFT are already functioning from the area.
