SHILLONG: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will visit Meghalaya on September 7 to lay the foundation stones for five infrastructure projects worth a combined Rs 1,010.95 crore, officials said.
The projects cover drinking water, road connectivity, healthcare and power infrastructure, with several aimed at supporting the expansion of New Shillong City.
The largest project is Phase II of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme, estimated at Rs 850.58 crore. It will supply safe drinking water to New Shillong City and 32 adjoining villages, eventually covering around 4.34 lakh people and 86,900 households. The scheme will also introduce Meghalaya’s first city-scale smart metering and volumetric water billing system.
Radhakrishnan will also lay the foundation stone for a 110-metre bridge over the Umngot River at an estimated cost of Rs 21.86 crore. The bridge will improve connectivity for 14 villages in Mawkynrew Block, benefiting around 28,479 people, and strengthen road links between East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills.
Another project is a 13.5-km all-weather road connecting Umsen with Barapathar through Pilangku-A, Jyrmang, Chibra and Mawiong. It is expected to benefit around 5,705 people across 21 villages and improve connectivity between Meghalaya and Assam.
The projects also include a 30-bedded AYUSH facility at Shillong Civil Hospital at a cost of Rs 10 crore, offering Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy, Panchakarma, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and inpatient care.
The fifth project is a Rs 72.5-crore power infrastructure package involving a 2×50 MVA, 132/33 kV substation at Mawkhanu, a 132 kV double-circuit transmission line from Saisiej and associated GIS infrastructure. It is aimed at improving the reliability and quality of power supply to New Shillong and adjoining areas.
During his visit, the Vice President will also attend a public reception in Shillong and witness cultural performances representing the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities.
