Base laid for new secretariat at Umsawli

Shillong, Jan 21: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday laid the foundation to construct the new Assembly Secretariat at Umsawli, New Shillong Township.
The occasion was 53rd Meghalaya Day.
The chief minister hoped that within 3 years, some of the buildings of the civil secretariat will come up at Umsawli
Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar said the the purpose is to decongest Shillong.
Cabinet Ministers Abu Taher Mondal, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Marcuise Marak and Comingone Ymbon were also present.
The secretariat is being built in 53 acre with an estimated cost of Rs 1188 crore. The Secretariat and Directorate campus at New Shillong administrative township will be constructed in two phases. The complex will have 68 offices, a 700 person capacity auditorium and facility for 1829 staff
The phase 2 complex with 1.25 lakh sq.m of floor area will accommodate the directorates with 56 offices, facility for 4746 staff, and 2 auditoriums of 200 person capacity each.
Conrad said, “It is not just a building and a construction that is going to happen. It is the expansion of the city of Shillong.”
On the design of the new secretariat which was shown on screen, he said, “This is not a video that has been made out of AI. This is an actual design of the real building that is going to come up out here, which has taken us more than a year to actually finalise”, he said.
Terming that the administrative and knowledge city, which is coming up in New Shillong as “growth centre”, he said, “…while we invest in this Secretariat, while we invest in the multiple roads connecting the existing city to this new administrative city. From this administrative city to the new knowledge city, we are laying the foundation for the community, for the people, for the landowners in about 30 sq km to develop this entire new Shillong into a major growth center for our state”.
He said Rs 5500 crore investment has already been planned in the new Shillong area by the government besides additional Rs10,000 crore investment in offing.
“This investment will completely transform new Shillong city”, he said while adding, that the secretariat building will act as a catalyst to ensure that we are able to take this dream of ours forward.
“This secretariat is not just a secretariat. This secretariat is, in a way, a symbol that we as a government and as a state and as people, we dare to dream big. It is a symbol of the aspirations that we have as a society and as a state and as a government. It is a symbol of hope that we would like to give to the people of the state”, he said.
Stating that many will negate the idea on construction of a new secretariat building, the chief minister said, “We are not only focusing on building infrastructure for the future of the state but have accorded equal thrust towards social sectors”.
“Our flagship schemes on youth, farmers and women is ensuring that we raise the living standard of our people. The overall economy of the state has been given a new impetus that is accelerating growth and development. This government is working towards overall development of our state,” the chief minister added.
Sniawbhalang said that the new infrastructure is being laid to empower the future of the state.
Tynsong said that the new secretariat has been envisioned by Chief Minister to ensure that administration and governance would be efficiently operational from the New Shillong city.
“We never thought that a new secretariat would have been possible but our beloved CM didn’t just dream but made it into reality to further accelerate progress and development”, said Tynsong.
On the occasion, the chief minister released social sector schemes worth Rs 63 crore for 6000 beneficiaries under CM Elevate, Focus, Green Meghalaya + and tourism infrastructure projects.