By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 10: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated Shillong’s first modern shopping mall at Polo.
A host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, Commissioner and Secretary, Vijay Kumar D, and Urban Affairs Director PK Boro, were present at the inauguration.
The Polo shopping mall was developed under the Shillong Smart City project and constructed by Badri Rai Company at a cost of Rs 100.33 crore. The mall has a total built-up area of 1.70 lakh square feet.
The foundation stone was laid on October 28, 2020, and the project was completed in December 2024.
The six-storied building will house 109 retail shops, ranging in size from 396 sq ft to 4,470.40 sq ft,
Eight office spaces, ranging from 830 sq ft to 8,050 sq ft and an exclusive gaming zone and food court covering a total carpet area of 15,270 sq ft.
The mall will also have parking facilities for 86 cars and 50 two-wheelers. The infrastructure includes five lifts, 12 escalators, five emergency exits, a 75-kilolitre sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, 110 CCTV cameras, and a comprehensive building management system.
The mall is expected to provide Shillongites with a modern and high-quality shopping experience, marking a major milestone in the city’s retail development.
In his address following the inauguration of the mall, the Chief Minister announced that the government will soon invite bids for leasing space inside the shopping mall.
“We would like to see competitive bidding so that we can get the best possible rates for the available space,” Sangma said.
“As mentioned, there’s extensive development happening above as well, including a gaming zone, although we may not have time to explore it today,” he said.
He also highlighted the food court and added that the mall offers a sizable space for young entrepreneurs to start their businesses at the mall which comes equipped with modern facilities.