Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 97/15

PROJECTS FOR WIDENING OF ROADS FOR NEW SHILLONG TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF POLO MARKET REVIEWED

Shillong, February 27, 2015: The Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma along with his Cabinet colleagues, reviewed and discussed projects for improvement and widening of roads that connect to New Shillong Township, Re-development of Polo Market and other issues like congestion and solutions for expansion of Shillong City at a meeting held here today afternoon.

During the meeting presentations were made by concerned departments and agencies for projects like Improvement and construction of road to the New Shillong Township including Shillong-Diengpasoh road and Mawdiangdiang-Mawlong road and Re-development of Polo Market for relocation of hawkers and roadside vendors, among others.

It may be mentioned that certain amount of money had been sanctioned for widening of roads to the new township area, including IHM and IIM, and the Chief Minister asked the MGCCL and PWD to proceed with the work that has been started and also speed up the land acquisition process. He said that road structure should be 32 metres wide with a proper divider of 1.5 metre width so that there can be plantations. The departments concerned were also asked to keep in mind the pedestrians in their construction and have footpaths on both sides of the road and also to include a cycling lane.

With regard to the presentation on re-development of Polo Market, the Chief Minister asked the NBCC to come up with a more conclusive ideas and aesthetic architectural design. “There is only one Shillong and only one Polo Market, therefore the structure should be such that it stands out as a landmark for the city as Times Square is to New York and Eiffel Tower to Paris” he said. They were also told not to restrain their ideas on issue of funds as funding could also be done on PPP mode.

As such the NBCC has been asked to re-design the structure and layout with two-three options and fixed March 9, 2015 for their next presentation. Issues like safety and beautification of the areas along the Wahumkhrah, need for regulation of building constructions in the city were also discussed during the meeting.

Home Minister, Roshan Warjri, Health Minister A. L. Hek, Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Government Chief Whip, R.V. Lyngdoh and Principal Secretary, Urban Affairs, P. Naik were among others who also attended the meeting.