By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 11: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) Secretary Sanjay Jaju has put Meghalaya’s high-stakes infrastructure portfolio under the scanner, reviewing a massive list of pending projects ranging from the New Shillong Township road to the long-awaited bulk water supply schemes in Tura and Baghmara.
Beginning a two-day visit to the state on Saturday, Jaju held a review meeting at the State Secretariat with the Chief Secretary and senior officials to audit central funds sanctioned under the PM-DevINE and NESIDS schemes.
The review focused heavily on the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the North East Region (PM-DevINE), which currently funds the construction of a four-lane road in New Shillong Township and an IT Park in Tura.
The Secretary also assessed significant investments in the tourism sector. These include the passenger ropeway at Shillong Peak and the skywalk at Mawkdok. A major portion of the portfolio is dedicated to the Sohra Tourism Circuit, which involves upgrades at Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, and the Khasi Heritage Experiential Centre at Saitsohpen. Other sites under development include the Shella riverfront and Arwah Cave.
Critical utility and connectivity projects under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) were also scrutinised. These include the Bulk Water Supply Scheme for Tura and the Greater Baghmara Water Supply project.
On the connectivity front, officials discussed the progress of the Chokpot-Kharukol road rehabilitation and the construction of bridges over the Myntdu and Umngot rivers.
While noting the visible growth in public infrastructure—including hospitals, research institutions, and bypasses—Jaju pointed to land availability as a recurring challenge for industrial projects. He suggested that the state’s economic future lies in the expansion of the logistics sector and the commercial potential of bamboo and turmeric.
