How far along is the construction of Meghalaya's new Assembly building?

Speaker of Meghalaya reviews progress on new Assembly building construction

Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and speaker Thomas A Sangma on Friday inspected the ongoing construction of the new Assembly building situated in the emerging Shillong Township. The duo oversaw the progress firsthand and later convened a review meeting to discuss further strategies and development regarding the project.

The construction work on the new Assembly building commenced in 2019 with an initial allocation of Rs. 120 crore. Originally scheduled for completion by July of the following year, the project faced a setback when the 70-tonne dome of the Rs 177.7 crore building constructed by a UP-based UPNRNNL collapsed in 2022.

This incident caused delays and necessitated a reassessment of the construction timeline and structural integrity of the edifice.

During the latest assessment, the speaker underscored the importance of maintaining safety standards and ensuring the quality of work without compromising on safety measures. "While striving to meet deadlines, no undue pressure would be placed on the contractor and design associates that could compromise safety protocols", he said.

The new building had to be constructed as the heritage assembly building at Khyndailad was gutted in a fire in 2001. Currently, the present assembly sessions are conducted in an auditorium of the Arts and Culture Department in the Rilbong area in Shillong.

Last year in November, the Chief Minister informed that the new building of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will be inaugurated in September of 2024. The state government is targeting to conduct the next Autumn Session at the new building.

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