Shillong, Aug 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday informed that the Government is making investments to develop and upgrade critical infrastructure to achieve its ambitious target of becoming one of the top 10 states in the country in  terms  of  Per  Capita Income  and  achievement  of  SDG  Goals  within  the  next  10  years.

Speaking of the occasion of 75th Independence Day on Sunday at the Polo grounds, Sangma said, “Infrastructural  development  is  foundational  for  sustainable  growth.  Lack  of proper  road  connectivity  prevents  farmers  from  accessing  markets,  women from  accessing  health  care  and  hinders  overall  development.  To  solve  this problem,  my  government  has  been  working  tirelessly  to  construct  rural roads  on  a  never  before  seen  scale.  In  the  last  two  years  we  have completed  the  construction  of  about  1,000  Kms  of  rural  roads  under  the PMGSY program.  Another  1,850  kms  of  roads  will  be  completed  in  the  next two years.”

Alongside  rural  roads,  the government is investing  about  Rs.  1,700  crores  in  major roads  and  bridges.  Critical  roads  like  the  Bajendoba-Resubelpara -Medipathar-Damra  Road,  the  Umling  Patharkhmah  road,  the  Pasyih-Grampani  road,  the    Mairang-Ranigodown  road  and  the  Rongram-Phulbari Hill  road  are  under  construction  and  will  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2022.

Iconic  Bridges  are  being  constructed  on  the  Umngot  river  in  West  Jaintia Hills,  Shella  river  in  East  Khasi  Hills  and  Damring  river  in  North  Garo  Hills.

Work  on  two  key  National  Highway  projects  is  underway-  two  laning  from Tura-Dalu  road  of  NH-51  covering  a  total  length  of  54  Kms and improvement  of  NH-40  between  Shillong  and  Dawki  and  construction  of Dawki  bridge  covering  a  total  length  of  80  Kms.

Water Supply 

In  water  supply,  Sangma said the government has a  very  ambitious  vision  of  providing  functional tap  connections  to  the  5.9  lakhs  households  in  the  State  by  the  end  of 2022.

“Of  these,  we  have  already  completed  1.33  lakhs.  This  aggressive implementation  of  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  is  transforming  the  lives  of  the people,” he said

He cited the example of Rikhen  Village  in  Mairang  Block,  West  Khasi  Hills, where the women  and  children  have  been  freed  from  the  drudgery  of  fetching  water from  far  away  springs  thanks  to  the  Functional  Household  Tap  Connections provided  in  all  the  145  households.

“We  want  to  bring  such  transformation and comfort  to  our women and children across  the  rural  areas  of  the  State. We  are  also  implementing  large  water  supply  schemes  in  Shillong,  Tura, Nongstoin  and  Baghmara.  Recently,  the  Greater  Sohra  Water  Supply Scheme,  constructed  with  an investment of  Rs.  24  crores,  was  inaugurated,” he said.

Critical  Infrastructure  Projects 

The Chief Minister also informed about some  critical  infrastructure  projects  that they hope to  complete before  the  Golden Jubilee  celebration  of  Meghalaya Statehood  in  January  next  year.

These  include the  new  Assembly  building,  the  Shillong  International  Centre  for Performing  Arts  and  Culture  (SICPAC)  and  the  IT  park  at  New  Shillong Township,  various  schemes  under  the  Shillong  SMART  city  project,  the Tribal  Research  Institute  at  Babadam,  West  Garo  Hills  and  the  PA  Sangma football  stadium  at  Tura.

He added that one key project the  Inter-State  Bus Terminus  (ISBT)  was recently inaugurated at  Mawlai  Mawïong.