Shillong, July 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on Tuesday met Union Minister in-charge of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, to seek support for ‘Unity Mall Project’.

The CM said the Unity Mall project, aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, aims to foster national integration, promote the “Make in India” concept through the start-up ecosystem, and facilitate the implementation of One District One Product (ODOP).

Highlighting the significance of the project, Conrad said, “The Unity Mall project holds immense significance for Meghalaya as it aligns with our goal of promoting local regional products, developing tourism, and generating economic prosperity.”

The proposed Unity Mall will be strategically located in New Shillong Township/City, alongside the new Administrative City, business district, and regional tourism and hospitality hub. An investment of INR 3000 crores is proposed for the development.

Called on Hon’ble Minister @PiyushGoyal ji and apprised him on the initiative taken by the State to implement key programs like One District One Product (ODOP) in its endeavour to build a startup ecosystem.

Also sought support from the Ministry for building an iconic Unity Mall… pic.twitter.com/nQq7usq2t2

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 4, 2023

 The Unity Mall project falls under Part-VI of the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24, implemented by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Unity Mall project was submitted to the Ministry on June 30, 2023. The estimated cost of the project as per the DPR is Rs. 431 crores, where the State has received allocation for Rs. 132 crores.

The Chief Minister highlighted that funds for the project are being mobilized through an Externally Aided Project, and the state government is exploring additional opportunities for support. Approximately 1700 acres of land have been acquired for the New Shillong City, which already houses prestigious institutions like IIM Shillong and NIFT. A land parcel of around 17 acres has been allocated specifically for the Unity Mall, a key investment in the development of New Shillong City.

With the vision to make Meghalaya a developed state, Conrad urged the Union Minister to increase the fund support from the Ministry for the Unity Mall project.

“To achieve our ambitious vision of building this iconic Unity Mall, Meghalaya would need a higher level of funding support from the Ministry. The estimated cost of the project as per the DPR is Rs. 431 crores, while the current allocation to the state stands at Rs. 132 crores. Given our high level of project readiness and the acute need for an iconic Unity Mall in a tourism hub like Shillong, I urge you to substantially increase our allocation so that the state can implement this unique project,” he said.

Also read: Manipur: Police shoot dead one, injure 2; violent protests triggered in Thoubal

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