By Toki Blah
“Urban transformation with an investment of Rs 6000 crores across urban centres such as Shillong, Jowai and Tura is on the State Govt Cards” screamed the news on page 3 of The Shillong Times dated September 10, 2025. It seems the Dy CM, I/c Urban Affairs had unveiled the above, in the pipeline, plans during the current Assembly Session. The focus is apparently on improvement of urban mobility, upgrading amenities (hopefully it means replacing worn out and archaic urban infrastructure) , adopting modern planning tools and strengthening community partnership (not really clear what is meant by this term or how it is planned to be achieved). I however heartily welcome such plans and initiatives which are long overdue. Nevertheless as an ordinary, simple yet concerned citizen who will definitely be impacted by the efficacy of such plans when they are implemented, I reserve for myself the right to also question and enquire. Last time I checked, Art 19 (1.a) of the Constitution is still there while Sec 2(28) of the BNS still upholds the definition that a Minister to the Government still remains a “Public Servant.” It means I can still question; raise doubts and the Government and the Public Servant concerned should not mind. So here goes.
Lets first discuss “improved urban mobility” which most probably means “improved public transport services through the deployment of 35 AC buses and 50 electric buses.” God alone knows how the public desperately needs those buses but we shouldn’t forget that under a similar scheme, 60 “Red Buses” were procured under JNNURM in 2011; given to some NGO to run and today hardly a trace of the same are to be found. Accountability has never been Meghalaya’s strong point but the fact remains that people in the know, all point out to the puzzling act of entrusting the running of the Red Buses to an NGO with no experience or credentials for such an undertaking. So the question of “sustainable operation” of the proposed new buses assumes critical importance. I doubt if the MTC will fit the bill.
Cut to the chase, I would propose that Government this time, simply concentrate on the following : (i) ensure the smooth running of the buses for the benefit of the public (ii) how the Transport Department will make profit or how to share revenue from the scheme should be the least of Governments concern (iii) therefore lease out the running and maintenance of the buses as a business proposal to technically qualified people. As long as an efficient public transport system is provided and sustained , so what if the lessee makes a profit out of it! (iv) Shillong at present has a number of big vehicles (read trucks) workshops, owned by professionals and staffed by experienced mechanics, who are desperate for work because of the slowdown in the coal business. Why not encourage such owners to form a Co-operative? Let them bid for operating the buses. (v) The main TOR for the contract is for the Co-operative to ensure running, say 90% of the buses on a daily basis from 6am to 10pm for the convenience of the public (vi) the Co-operative will take care of all medium and small repair works without bothering the Government (vii) Let Government only provide the Co-operative a parking space and a covered working shed ( for which it can charge rent) and lets see how things go. (ix) Leasing out the buses to a company owned by a Minister, his relatives or political chamchas is to simply invite another urban disaster.
Now lets get down to the nitty gritty of “adopting modern planning tools.”What “modern planning tools” is the Minister talking about? GIS, BIM, 3D/VR/AR Tech are all data dependent and data driven digital tools for decision making. My point is , does Urban Affairs have such baseline data? Now baseline data is important so that work done can be evaluated. 20 years back under the Aus-Aid programme such data was created after spending a lot of time and money. What happened to that data ? Or are we planning to use the 6000 crores to bring in a multitude of the usual, dubious “Fly –by-night” consultants to create fresh databases? Now even if such data is to be created, who will use it? Let’s be clear about one thing – it’s not the job of the Urban Affairs Department to implement projects. So, Meghalaya is at best left with the Directorate of Urban Affairs, the Municipalities and the Autonomous District Councils to carry out the implementation part of the announced transformation plans and the slew of schemes attached to it. Again are these bodies equipped with the software, manpower, technical know-how and expertise to man and run the required Monitoring and Evaluation systems and the Management Information Systems needed for such an ambitious and highly technical transformation program? Rule of Thumb assessment suggests that these modern planning tools mentioned would need a minimum 1000, if not more, trained technical personnel.
The fact, Mr Urban Minister is that we don’t even have a functional elected Shillong Municipality. Not to talk about other understaffed ULBs that can make use of such “modern planning tools.” So has the Assembly been fed a “Pipe Dream” or is the claimed urban transformation not so much on improving public civic amenities but a devious plot to simply spend 6000 Crore?
Now in the absence of any Mission Statement on how the declared urban plan is to be carried out (a Mission Statement is a concise declaration explaining an organization’s fundamental purpose, core values, and overall goals to its stakeholders) let us take the Minister’s goal of “strengthening community partnership,” for the same. To my knowledge and understanding such community partnership undertakings can only happen through legally recognized community Institutions. But that is just part of the requirement. These community institutions must also be designed, empowered and capacitated community Institutions that are capable and trained in participatory exercises ( where both men and women participate) to visualize, plan and manage their own development. Vision and Finance management capabilities are critical components that need to be factored in. So do our Dorbar Shnong fit this required criteria?
If the Minister believes that the KHADC Administration of Elaka (Amendment) Act 2023 provides him with the required community Institutions to bring about “a people driven Urban transformation,” , then he is sadly mistaken. The above Elaka Amendment is perhaps the biggest hoax ever played on the Khasis! The Amendment in no way seeks to bring about an improved participatory paradigm in the governing ability of our grassroots village Dorbar. Instead it seeks how the KHADC can have more control, more domination and absolute supremacy over our village traditional bodies. It seeks to squeeze the Dorbar of any semblance of autonomy they presently enjoy. The whole Act is about continued KHADC hegemony and control over the Dorbar! The role of women and youth in Dorbar decision making processes has been effectively muzzled. Any development project assigned to the Dorbar and recognized by this Act will simply perpetuate a top down, target driven development paradigm instead of the much required bottom up, demand driven mode that is the universally recognized paradigm for sustainable development. The Act simply enforces the distinct possibility that the Rs 6000 crore will be shown as spent on office files with nothing to show on the ground! It will simply increase the number of Government Development Tombstones that litter our countryside. In short it’s the perfect setup for a major scam!
One is really disheartened to see the current Autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly end with hardly any questions, except perhaps for a few comments from Dr Mukul Sangma and Ardent Basaiawmoit, on this whole urban transformation plan. Rs 6000 crore is a huge amount by any stretch of the imagination. What if these plans are not what we really want? We the public for whom it is intended need to know.
The writer on his own made some tentative queries from members of the public ( a very small sample survey) on issues they thought the Rs 6000 crore should be spent on. The replies showed that the common man may perhaps have better ideas than the Government. Some stated that with such a huge amount at its disposal the Government should seriously think about a people’s market, something like Iewduh; three or four storied perhaps; equipped with modern facilities like escalators, parking spaces, hygienic eateries, clean washrooms and toilets etc. Not a shopping mall, but a people’s market with small kong shops for livelihood of the poor and employment for thousands of our youths.
Lots of land is still available on the Mawiong – Shillong- Mawsiatkhnam road they point out and this will help decongest Old Shillong. It made a lot of sense to me. The question to ask here is did the Urban Affairs Depertment carry out a similar “what the people really want” survey before the Urban Transformation Plan was presented on the floor of the House? Too many times we have allowed ourselves to be carried away by good intentions but horrible implementation schemes that bring no benefits. Actually it’s the job of the Opposition to question but should we, the public, then also keep quiet when they fail to do so?