In a significant stride toward industrial development in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated a ₹340 crore PepsiCo bottling plant at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills district — the largest such facility in the entire Northeast region.Spanning across 37 acres within the Mendipathar Industrial Area, the plant is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities, opening new avenues for local businesses and uplifting the regional economy. Notably, Mendipathar remains the only town in Meghalaya with a railway head, making it a strategic location for large-scale industry.Calling the development a “blessing for the state,” CM Sangma said, “This plant is not just an industrial unit—it symbolizes Meghalaya’s future. Nobody imagined that the biggest bottling plant in Northeast India would be built here in Mendipathar.”
He highlighted the plant’s potential to drive growth in sectors like housing, transport, retail, and services. “With this development, we can expect a ripple effect in ancillary industries, boosting entrepreneurship and youth employment,” Sangma added. The project also carries emotional weight, as the CM paid tribute to his late father, former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma, whose vision for an industrially vibrant Garo Hills was finally realized after decades. “This industrial area was conceptualised in the 1990s, but no investment came for more than 30 years. Today marks the fulfilment of a long-standing dream,” he remarked.
Sangma thanked the local Nokmas and residents for their decades-old land donations that paved the way for this transformation. He also extended appreciation to Varun Beverages Ltd, which operates the plant under PepsiCo. Commending their efficiency, Sangma said, “Though the target was nine months, the project was completed in just 11 months.”Senior state leaders including Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, Power Minister A.T. Mondal, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, and MIDC Chairman James K Sangma were also present at the inauguration.