Construction of ‘Times Square’ like Polo market begins

SHILLONG: Construction work for the Polo market project has begun.Government officials informed that the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) is the implementing agency for the project.The Union Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation has earmarked Rs 23 crore for the project.
It was a big relief for the government when the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the East Khasi Hills district administration demolished several shops in Polo market in accordance with the High Court of Meghalaya verdict passed in favour of the State government on April 24 last year paving way for the construction of the shopping complex.The officials said that no deadline   has been fixed for the project but added that the project will take more than 18 months to be completed.
The government plans to develop a beautiful shopping complex extending till the Polo junction and an extensive master plan has been prepared for the same.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had expressed the State government’s intention of building a ‘Times Square like’ structure at the proposed shopping complex at Polo market.
However, officials said that the department would require additional land for the project and added that at the moment, the NBCC would re-develop the place into a modern market.
The officials also said that the department will give first preference to those shopkeepers who had been evicted from the old Polo market.