Shillong, September 5: Foundation stones for five major infrastructure projects with a combined listed cost of Rs 1,010.95 crore are slated to be laid during the Vice President of India’s visit to Meghalaya on September 7-8, according to a State Government project note.
The projects cover water supply, road and bridge connectivity, healthcare and power infrastructure, with the largest being the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase II.
The water supply project, estimated at around Rs 850.59 crore, is aimed at establishing a modern city-scale water network for New Shillong City and adjoining areas. It is designed to provide round-the-clock safe drinking water to New Shillong and 32 surrounding villages, ultimately catering to around 4.34 lakh people and approximately 86,900 households. The project will also introduce Meghalaya’s first city-scale smart metering and volumetric water billing system and will be integrated with the Integrated Command and Control Centre for real-time monitoring.
It is expected to support major upcoming infrastructure in New Shillong, including the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly, IT Parks, Knowledge City, Unity Mall, educational institutions and sports facilities.
Another major project is the construction of a 110-metre bridge over the Umngot River along the Jongksha-Kharang-Dienglieng-Nongjrong-Moodymmai-Wahiajer road at a cost of Rs 21.86 crore. The bridge is expected to benefit around 28,479 people across 14 villages and improve connectivity between remote areas of Mawkynrew Block and West Jaintia Hills. It will also create an alternative road link between Shillong and Jowai and improve movement of agricultural and forest produce.
A 13.5-km all-weather road from Umsen to Barapathar via Pilangku-A, Jyrmang, Chibra and Mawiong is also among the projects. The road will connect villages in Jirang and Umling Blocks in Ri-Bhoi district and provide a shorter interstate link with Assam. It is expected to benefit around 5,705 people across 21 villages and improve access to markets, economic opportunities and tourism destinations, including Chibra Falls.
The summary project list puts the cost of the road at Rs 56.01 crore, while the detailed project note mentions a cost of Rs 50.16 crore.
In the health sector, a 30-bedded AYUSH facility will be constructed at Shillong Civil Hospital at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The G+2 facility will provide services including Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy, Panchakarma therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and inpatient care. The project is aimed at integrating traditional systems of medicine with mainstream public healthcare.
The fifth project is a 2×50 MVA, 132/33 kV substation at Mawkhanu, along with a 132 kV double-circuit transmission line from Saisiej to Mawkhanu and a GIS bay at Saisiej, at a cost of Rs 72.5 crore.
The project is designed to meet growing electricity demand in New Shillong and adjoining areas and improve the reliability and quality of power supply. It will also provide an alternative power source and strengthen transmission capacity for future urban and institutional development.
The power project is being funded under the PM-DevINE initiative, while the Umngot bridge and Ri-Bhoi road are funded through NESIDS. The New Shillong Water Supply Scheme is listed under the Urban Challenge Fund of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, while the AYUSH facility is supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs under Article 275(1). All five projects are listed as tendered.
