Marking his maiden visit to Meghalaya, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Vice President of India, laid key foundation stones for five mega infrastructure projects at a grand Public Reception held today at the Soso Tham Auditorium, Shillong. The event took place in the august presence of Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, alongside senior cabinet ministers, senior officials, and community leaders of the state.
Notably, foundation stones of projects worth ₹1,010.95 crores were laid.
In his address, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Vice President appreciated the State Government’s development initiatives and expressed confidence that the new interventions would contribute significantly to Meghalaya’s development in the coming years.
Vice President noted that investments in infrastructure and tourism have scaled up over the past eight years and appreciated initiatives such as the State’s Homestay Programme.
He also lauded the Chief Minister’s CM-ELEVATE and Green Meghalaya initiatives, congratulating Shri Conrad K Sangma for the State’s overall achievements and development-oriented approach.
He said, “These projects are more than just investment in infrastructure; these represent the investment in the future of Meghalaya and the development of Meghalaya.”
The traditional knowledge and community institutions of Meghalaya, he said, offer valuable lessons as India works towards building a more sustainable future.
The five foundation stones laid by the Hon’ble Vice President includes:
● New Shillong Water Supply Scheme (Phase II): Budgeted at ₹850.58 crore and implemented under Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), this project will supply safe drinking water to New Shillong City and 32 adjoining rural habitations, benefiting over 4.34 lakh citizens across 86,900 households. The project pioneers Meghalaya’s first city-scale smart metering and volumetric billing architecture to ensure water management efficiency.
● Umngot River Bridge Project: Executed at ₹21.86 crore, the NESIDS funded 110-metre bridge across the Umngot River along the Jongksha-Kharang stretch will provide direct connectivity to 14 villages in Mawkynrew Block (benefiting over 28,000 residents), while establishing an alternative transit link between East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills.
● Umsen to Barapathar All-Weather Corridor: Spanning 13.5 km through Pilangku-A, Jyrmang, Chibra, and Mawiong, the NESIDS funded all-weather road budgeted at ₹56.01 crore, strengthens mobility across 21 habitations (5,700+ residents) and bolsters cross-border commerce between Meghalaya and Assam.
● 30-Bedded Integrated AYUSH Facility: Backed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Project, at an outlay of ₹10 crore, this centre at Shillong Civil Hospital will deliver wellness services, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Yoga, Panchakarma, and dedicated inpatient rehabilitation.
● Power Grid Expansion Package: A ₹72.5 crore (PM DevINE) power infrastructure project featuring a 2×50 MVA, 132/33 kV substation at Mawkhanu, a 132 kV double-circuit line from Saisiej, and advanced Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) technology to provide reliable energy for the expansion of New Shillong City.