By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 2: The second phase of the Rs 38-crore Laitumkhrah Market Complex under the Shillong Smart City Project is progressing steadily and is scheduled for completion by March 2027, with a strong possibility of finishing earlier.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said work is moving at full pace and several major components have already been completed. However, she clarified that the authorities will not rush the inauguration.
“We are not in a hurry to open the market. Whatever is done must be done properly so that there are no complaints later,” Lyngdoh said.
She added that regular inspections are being carried out and the overall progress is satisfactory. The market will be jointly inaugurated only after both the market committee and the Laitumkhrah Dorbar Pyllun are fully satisfied.
Key remaining works include a sewage management plan, well-designed entry and exit points, embarkation and disembarkation facilities, and the construction of a service road around the complex. Parking infrastructure is also being developed under this phase.
Lyngdoh highlighted that these facilities are essential to ensure smooth and regulated commercial activities. At present, vendors continue to unload goods on the main road due to inadequate internal access, adding to congestion in the busy Iew Shillong area.
In a significant reform, smart prepaid electricity meters will be installed in every stall and shop. This decision follows years of accumulated pending electricity bills under the previous management, which often led to power disruptions. With prepaid meters, vendors will be directly responsible for their consumption, protecting the municipal board from outstanding dues.
Another important component under consideration is the construction of a mini-slaughterhouse with proper hygiene standards to prevent slaughtering of poultry, pigs, and cattle on public pathways.
The commercial complex, whose construction began in August 2020, was originally supposed to be completed in January 2025. Once finished, it will house 183 stalls and provide parking space for up to 100 vehicles.
