Shillong, Jan 17: State Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Monday informed that the government has approved the shifting of the administrative building of Government of Meghalaya to New Shillong Township (NST) near Mawpdang Mawkhanu in East Khasi Hills District.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Rymbui informed that the government has already acquired 807.7 acres of land in the NST and the foundation stone for the new Administrative building at Mawpdang Mawkhanu will be laid on January 21, 2022, which will coincide with the 50th year of statehood celebrations.

He said the decision was made taking into consideration the traffic congestion in Shillong. “Also taking into consideration the expanding of the NST, the administrative building and government offices will be shifted to the new site at Mawpdang and Mawkhanu,” Rymbui added.

When asked about the project cost, the home minister however said, “This is not a short term but it is long term measure as you see Shillong has become very congested and since government has developed the NST, it is fit for the government to have a planned town so it will not only help ease the congestion in Shillong but also develop the other periphery of the Shillong Agglomeration as a whole.”

On the query of whether all government offices including the secretariat will be shifted to the NST, Rymbui said it will be done in a phased manner.

“As I said, this is a long term plan of the government. We cannot do it in one or three years but once the plan is there, different departments and different directorates will have to plan as to what is the need taking into account the new age administration. So the nitty-gritty we will work out but decision has been taken that ultimately the new Shillong will have, at some point of time, a permanent administrative building for the state of Meghalaya,” he said.