SHILLONG:
Meghalaya is all set to get Rs 500 crore as special assistance on capital investment for urban development within this financial year.
“I am happy to inform you that out of Rs 15,000 crore, we have put in a proposal of Rs 619 crore from Meghalaya’s point of view and we have already received approval close to Rs 500 crore out of this,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after the state Cabinet has approved the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024.
He said both the amendment of the Meghalaya Building Byelaws and the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024 have been adopted with the intention of ensuring the state is able to avail the special assistance on capital investment for urban areas.
Sangma added that the government is expecting another Rs 100 crore to come in after the approvals and amendments are done.
“So we are expecting that Meghalaya should receive Rs 597 crore but even the Rs 100 crore is still pending we are expected to get Rs 497 crore (almost Rs 500 crore) from the special assistance on capital investments for urban areas in this particular financial year,” he said while adding that what is important to note is that even larger states like Assam and Uttarpradesh are also receiving roughly about Rs 500 crore, which is same as what Meghalaya is expected to receive.
“Hence, we have been working very hard, the urban affairs department has worked very hard. As I said we can get some additional funds for the overall development of Shillong and other urban areas. This is the same fund that will be utilised for things like the riverfront improvement that we laid the foundation stone the other day, some parking lots to be created, some walkways to be created and so forth, we have put in several proposals for that also,” he added.
Asked, the CM said that the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024 will ensure the mobility in Shillong improves adding it will include aspects of public transportation, creating more walking space, reducing congestion, and creating parking spaces and so on.
“This policy just gives an outline on how we will approach that and this was clear today by the cabinet. The policy document will guide us and give us the vision of how we would like to improve the overall mobility of the state,” he said.
To a question, Sangma said, “It is a process, there is nothing called full implementation. For example, the parking lots of about 3-4 locations have already been tendered out and the work will start there. We have about 1200 plus parking spaces for vehicles in the pipelines and we expect 50% of that to be completed within this financial year and 50% in the next financial year. We are also looking at 10-15 km of walking space.”