Meghalaya’s Smart City Projects Achieve 78 per cent Progress by July

15 Sep 2025 CW Team

VPP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit raised concerns that the government is focusing primarily on constructing commercial complexes, which he argued is contrary to the mission’s objective of improving living conditions, including education and other sectors.

Dhar acknowledged that this may have been the case in the first phase but assured members that other important projects would be prioritised in the second phase. He also highlighted the installation of open-air gyms at various locations in Shillong, including Governor House, Mawprem, and Laitumkhrah, at a project cost of Rs 50 million.

Regarding the Polo commercial complex, Dhar stated that it was recently inaugurated by the Union Finance Minister and is now being operationalised with 109 shops.

Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma asked whether any quality audit had been conducted at the Polo complex. The minister confirmed that an audit had been carried out by the department. Sangma also raised concerns about the alleged large salary withdrawals by the Smart City project CEO, to which Dhar replied that he would need formal notice as the information was not immediately available.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma explained that the government had initially invited tenders for the entire building but did not receive any bids. The administration is now exploring whether to allot stalls floor-wise or shop-wise. “So very soon we will be finalising that,” he added.

Addressing concerns about outsourcing the management of the complex instead of directly engaging unemployed youth, the Chief Minister stated that the government must follow due procedure and ensure maximum revenue. However, he assured that multiple projects are in place to tackle employment challenges.

The Meghalaya government has made significant progress in implementing projects under the Smart City Mission, achieving an overall physical completion of 77.81 per cent as of July this year. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar informed the Assembly of this update.VPP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit raised concerns that the government is focusing primarily on constructing commercial complexes, which he argued is contrary to the mission’s objective of improving living conditions, including education and other sectors.Dhar acknowledged that this may have been the case in the first phase but assured members that other important projects would be prioritised in the second phase. He also highlighted the installation of open-air gyms at various locations in Shillong, including Governor House, Mawprem, and Laitumkhrah, at a project cost of Rs 50 million.Regarding the Polo commercial complex, Dhar stated that it was recently inaugurated by the Union Finance Minister and is now being operationalised with 109 shops.Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma asked whether any quality audit had been conducted at the Polo complex. The minister confirmed that an audit had been carried out by the department. Sangma also raised concerns about the alleged large salary withdrawals by the Smart City project CEO, to which Dhar replied that he would need formal notice as the information was not immediately available.Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma explained that the government had initially invited tenders for the entire building but did not receive any bids. The administration is now exploring whether to allot stalls floor-wise or shop-wise. “So very soon we will be finalising that,” he added.Addressing concerns about outsourcing the management of the complex instead of directly engaging unemployed youth, the Chief Minister stated that the government must follow due procedure and ensure maximum revenue. However, he assured that multiple projects are in place to tackle employment challenges.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Expands Tumkur Facility with New Automated Panel, PEB Lines

Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across pre-engineered building (PEB) and polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous sandwich panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur.The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of Rs 250 crore, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manufacturing scale, and industrial growth. The integrated facility spans approx..

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..