SHILLONG, Jan 3: Meghalaya’s development narrative in 2024 painted a dismal picture of stagnation and missed opportunities.
With urban amenities and infrastructure projects stuck in an endless loop, the year became a testament to the state’s systemic inefficiencies.
Despite lofty ambitions and announcements, most projects continued to be defined by missed deadlines and unfulfilled promises. From roads to water supply, and electrification to traffic management, Meghalaya’s urban framework remained in a state of neglect. The much-hyped Shillong Smart City project added little more than a symbolic board, emblematic of empty promises.
The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, tasked with executing 17 projects worth over Rs 7,195 crore since 2018, had a dismal performance. Only one project—Ranikor-Nonghyllam-Maheshkhola-Baghmara road (package 1)—is close to completion with 94.53 per cent progress in work. The rest are delayed, with some scratching the surface of progress despite years of work.
The Shillong-Dawki project, once touted as a game-changer, stands as a glaring symbol of Meghalaya’s infrastructure paralysis. Repeatedly missing deadlines, construction of this vital road remains stalled on several stretches, mired in bureaucratic inefficiencies and executional bottlenecks.
Shillong, once the pride of Meghalaya, is now plagued by decaying urban amenities. The city’s much-awaited projects, such as the Polo commercial complex and the integrated solid waste management facility in East Khasi Hills, remain stuck in limbo. Other grand initiatives—the Shillong Ropeway, Ward’s Lake beautification and Barik Point redevelopment—have been pushed to 2025, turning the state capital into a chaotic mix of unfulfilled potential and growing discontent.
Traffic woes, under-construction roads and erratic water supply continue to be the grim reality for residents. The promise of electrification of remote villages is also yet to be fulfilled.
The new Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building, delayed for years, continues to symbolically mirror Meghalaya’s governance challenges. Meanwhile, railway, considered a crucial link for economic growth, continues to remain a taboo, perpetuating Meghalaya’s isolation from national progress.
Assertions and justifications aside, the reality is stark: Meghalaya’s urban development remains frozen in time. Deadlines come and go, but progress is elusive. The systemic failure to deliver on promises has turned hope into despair, leaving citizens grappling with a cycle of disappointment.
