Shillong, Mar 5: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today presented a ₹30,003 crore budget for 2025-26, promising economic growth and infrastructure expansion.
“The is a 3-fold increase in expenditure over the 8-year period, which is one of the highest growth rates in the country”, he said while presenting his eighth consecutive budget, adding, “In 2017-18, the expenditure was ₹9,858 Cr”.
He said that this year’s budget-making exercise was special as it invited citizen participation through a formal pre-budget consultation.
“This engagement enriched my understanding of the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the different sections of our society and strengthened the budgeting exercise”, he said.
He remarked that the budget is aimed to achieve ‘Meghalaya Mission 10,’ which aims to transform the state into a $10 billion economy by 2028 and one of India’s top 10 states in per capita GDP and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) achievements by 2032.
With a projected GSDP of ₹66,645 crore and an annual growth rate of 12.7%, the budget maintains a fiscal deficit of ₹1,970 crore, which is 2.96% of the GSDP and within the permissible limit of 3.5%.
The chief minister said the MDA government has been able to achieve a reversal of fortunes for Meghalaya and its people since 2018.
“We have achieved an impressive 11 percent economic growth over the last 7 years. The Meghalaya model of development is built on principles of strengthening traditional community institutions, investing in citizens, leveraging technology, and forging national and international partnerships”, he said
₹2,873 Cr allocated for road connectivity
The budget has major focus on infrastructure, with ₹2,873 crore allocated for road development and connectivity projects. This includes key initiatives such as the Shillong Western Bypass, the expansion of the Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge, and the Border Economic Corridor aimed at enhancing trade with Bangladesh.
The state government is also prioritizing air connectivity with the expansion of Shillong Airport and the construction of heliports in Shillong and Tura.
Push for private Sector investment
He said that the state requires private sector investment amounting to ₹8,500 Cr to achieve the GSDP target. He said that Meghalaya Investment Promotion Authority (MIPA) is managing the investment promotion ecosystem.
Varun Beverages is setting up a ₹300 crore plant in the Garo Hills, while Lemon Tree Hotels has been awarded a ₹124 crore project to develop the Orchid Hotel in Shillong. Four luxury resorts worth ₹900 crore are being planned in Umiam, Sohra, Mawdiangdiang, and Khanapara, which will boost the state’s growing tourism sector.
MIPA is also creating new land banks and development state of the art industrial parks. The first industrial park spread over 633-acre land is being developed in Tikrikilla block in West Garo Hills.
“The private investment in the state will ensure job creation,” he added.
An investment worth ₹ 2000 Cr in sectors such as bamboo, hydropower and tourism are in pipeline for the next financial year, he said.
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