By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 4: One of the much anticipated projects under the Smart City initiative is the Shillong Business-cum-Tourism centre, which is being built at the site where earlier stood the old Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) building in Police Bazar. This smart city project is expected to be completed in one-and-a-half years’ time.
The project is being implemented by M/s Badri Rai and Company, and its financial progress as of August-end is 22.22 %.
The expected date of completion of the project is March 31, 2025. It was awarded to the firm on November 25, 2021
The tender value for the project was Rs 185.94 crore initially excluding GST but the government revised it to Rs 211.87 crore with GST at 12% to be deducted at source.
Initially, Cabinet Minister AL Hek, who was ousted from the Cabinet, had opposed the expenditure on the project at the MTC complex.
With castigation running rife over the project and some much-vaunted projects in a limbo, the fate of the business-cum-tourism centre seems to be uncertain. However, the work at the site is going in full swing as is evident to every passerby at Police Bazar.
It may be mentioned that the Polo Commercial Complex project is also being undertaken by M/s Badri Rai and Company, and the project is nowhere near completion despite three years of being awarded the project.
The expected date of completion of the project is March 31 next year. Its physical progress is 60% (as of August 2023), while the financial progress is 46.82%.