Tura, May 22: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday held an extensive CM Connect interaction with residents of Tura and announced a series of major urban infrastructure and public welfare projects aimed at strengthening development in the region.
The programme, organised at the District Auditorium in Tura, allowed citizens to directly raise civic and developmental concerns before the Chief Minister as part of the government’s participatory governance initiative.
During the visit, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Nazing Bazar, which includes a new parking lot, hotel facility, multipurpose hall and vending area. The project has been sanctioned at ₹60.76 crore. He also initiated projects for a multi-level parking and cinema complex at Dakopgre, along with a food court, at a sanctioned cost of ₹51.42 crore.
A renovation of the Social Mobilization Experimentation & Learning Centre (SMELC) Complex is also being undertaken, taking the total value of development projects launched on the day to around ₹150 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Conrad Sangma said development projects worth nearly ₹1,720 crore have been taken up in Tura over the past eight years. He informed that a dedicated CM Connect office has now been established at the PA Sangma Sports Complex and similar offices will be opened across every block for improved public engagement.
The Chief Minister further announced plans for additional urban and cultural infrastructure in Tura, including three cinema halls, a gaming zone, an Art and Culture Promenade with museum facilities and an active ageing centre for senior citizens. He also launched the Tura Smart Town Booklet during the programme.
Sangma also announced locality-wise streetlight projects and distribution of sanction letters for installation of 1,000 streetlights and 300 CCTV cameras across localities in Tura.
Speaking on the objective of CM Connect, the Chief Minister said the programme was designed to allow direct communication between the public and the Chief Minister’s office for grievance redressal through the helpline number 1971.
The Chief Minister also reviewed several ongoing infrastructure projects in Tura, including the Tura Integrated Administrative Complex, beautification of Tura Bazaar, Working Women’s Hostel, redevelopment of Polo Orchid, PA Sangma Sports Complex, Patogan Nengmynja Track & Field Stadium, Convention Centre and Pelga Tourist Circuits and Hospitality Complex.
During the interaction, residents raised issues related to roads, retaining walls and water supply, to which the Chief Minister assured intervention and necessary action by concerned departments.
The programme also witnessed the launch of the Tura Municipal Board Mobile Application and distribution of cheques worth ₹25,000 each to selected artists under the Chief Minister’s Artists Engagement Scheme.
