Meghalaya is all set to get Rs 2000 crore as special assistance on capital investment for urban development within this financial year.
“Along with the Rs 700 crore that was budgeted for us, we will be getting a fund of close to Rs 2,000 crore this year from special assistance…and also the additional bonus that we are entitle to now because of the absorption capacity of the state and the fact that we have utilized the funds in a much faster manner in compared to other states,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after the state Cabinet has approved the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024.
“I am happy to inform you that out of Rs 15,000 crore, we have put in a proposal of Rs 619 crore from Meghalaya’s point of view and we have already received approval close to Rs 500 crore out of this,” he added.
He said both the amendment of the Meghalaya Building Byelaws and the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024 have been adopted with the intention of ensuring the state is able to avail the special assistance on capital investment for urban areas.
Sangma added that the government is expecting another Rs 100 crore to come in after the approvals and amendments are done.
“So we are expecting that Meghalaya should receive Rs 597 crore but even the Rs 100 crore is still pending we are expected to get Rs 497 crore (almost Rs 500 crore) from the special assistance on capital investments for urban areas in this particular financial year,” he said while adding that what is important to note is that even larger states like Assam and Uttarpradesh are also receiving roughly about Rs 500 crore, which is same as what Meghalaya is expected to receive.
“Hence, we have been working very hard, the urban affairs department has worked very hard. As I said we are able to get some additional funds for the overall development of Shillong and other urban areas. This is the same fund that will be utilized for things like the riverfront improvement that we laid foundation stone the other day, some parking lots to be created, some walkways to be created and so on and so forth, we have put in a number of proposals for that also,” he added.
Asked, the CM said that the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, 2024 will ensure the mobility in Shillong improves adding it will include aspects of public transportation, creating more walking space, reducing the congestion and creating parking spaces and so on and so forth.
“This policy just gives an outline on how we will approach that and this was clear today by the cabinet. The policy document will guide us and give us the vision on how we would like to improve the overall mobility of the state,” he said.
To a question, Sangma said, “It is a process, there is nothing called full implementation. For example, the parking lots of about 3-4 locations have already tendered out and the work will start there. We have about 1200 plus parking spaces for vehicles that are in the pipelines and we expect 50% of that to be completed within this financial year and 50% to be completed in the next financial year. We are also looking at 10-15 kms of walking space.”
Meanwhile, the CM informed that the government will also come up with a separate policy for other district headquarters. “We had planned to come up with an urban mobility policy and then we realised that Shillong is in a different category altogether so what applies for Shillong will not be applicable for Resubelpara or Nongpoh. Therefore, we will be coming up with a separate policy for the other district headquarters.”
+ There are no comments
Add yours