UT News Service | Shillong, Aug 14: The SMB Market Complex at Polo in Shillong was inaugurated on Thursday by Urban Affairs Minister, Hamletson Dohling.
Terming the inauguration of the market complex as a fulfilment of a long awaited need, Dohling said that although the project was sanctioned in the year 2010-11, hurdles such as litigation filed by the vendors and untimely disbursement of funds resulted in the project being stalled for such a long period.
He also informed that the government has followed up on a number of pending projects under the Urban Affairs department which has resulted in the completion of composting plants in Tura and Nongpoh and also the ISBT in Tura.
He further added that the process of replacement of the incinerator at Marten ground and the setting up of common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities is in progress. “An amount of Rs. 75 crores has also been sanctioned for the construction of a New Polo Market adjacent to the new market complex and is expected to be completed in the next three years,” he informed.
Also addressing the gathering, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek stated that the market complex is the first step in the beautification process of Polo Market and exhorted all stakeholders to shoulder the responsibility to keep the market and its surroundings clean.
On the day, deeds of agreement and shop keys were also handed out to a few of the shopkeepers.
Sanctioned in the year 2010-11 at an estimated cost of Rs. 21.41 crores, the market complex has been built over an area of 3000 square metres and houses a total of 297 stalls and a food court. The project was funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and implemented by the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.
Local MLA, Adelbert Nongrum and senior officials of the Shillong Municipal Board and Urban Affairs Department were also present at the event.
NNN