Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 570/20

SMB MARKET COMPLEX AT POLO INAUGURATED

The SMB Market Complex, Polo, a state of the art building designed to rehabilitate the road side vendors and hawkers of Polo Bazar was today inaugurated by Shri. Hamletson Dohling, Meghalaya Urban Affairs Minister in the presence of Shri. A.L Hek, Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri. Adelbert Nongrum, local MLA and senior officials of the Shillong Municipal Board and Urban Affairs Department. Sanctioned in the year 2010-11 at an estimated cost of Rs. 21.41 Cr, the Market Complex has been built over an area of 3000 SqM and houses a total of 297 stalls and a food court. The project was funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and implemented by the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Hamletson Dohling termed the inauguration of the market complex as a fulfillment of a long awaited need. He further informed that although the project was sanctioned in the year 2010-11, hurdles such as litigation filed by the vendors and untimely disbursement of funds resulted in the project being stalled for such a long period. Shri. Dohling also informed that the Government has followed up on a number of pending projects under the Urban Affairs Department which has resulted in the completion of composting plants in Tura and Nongpoh and also the ISBT in Tura. He further added that the process of replacement of the incinerator at Marten ground and the setting up of common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities are in progress. Besides these, an amount of Rs. 75 Cr has also been sanctioned for the construction of a new polo market adjacent to the new market complex and is expected to be completed in the next three years.

Shri. A L Hek while addressing gathering stated the Market Complex was the first step in the beautification process of Polo market and exhorted all stakeholders to shoulder the responsibility to keep the market and its surroundings clean. On the day, deeds of agreement and shop keys were also handed out to a few of the shopkeepers.