The Meghalaya Government is planning to establish a Tourist Informatics Centre along the Umshyrpi four-lane corridor in Shillong as part of a broader infrastructure push that also includes a proposed police station, fire service station and a community office for traditional headmen of Upper Shillong, Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Friday after conducting a joint inspection of the identified sites.
The proposed facilities are expected to strengthen emergency response services, enhance tourist support infrastructure and provide institutional space for local traditional bodies along one of Shillong’s most critical traffic corridors linking the city with Upper Shillong and adjoining areas.
Tynsong, accompanied by senior police officials and departmental authorities, inspected vacant plots along the four-lane stretch to assess their suitability for the proposed projects.
“The inspection today was only to identify the location. Firstly is about the vacant space, just near the four lane bridge of Umshyphi where from the state Government we would like to set up a full-fledged police station and also fire service station in these two places. So, I was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Administration), SP East Khasi Hills and SP Shillong City. They said this place is very feasible and convenient for setting up these two stations here in this particular plot,” he said.
He said the Government was also considering the development of another plot for tourism and community-related infrastructure in response to long-standing demands from local traditional bodies.
“Again, the second space we have, we thought of having some kind of Tourists Informatics Centre, we would like to create a tourist informatics centre. Plus we would like to have because time and again the Sanjuk ki Rongbha Shnong of Upper Shillong area, they have requested the government to provide atleast two or three thousand square feet of land for construction of their office as well as the community hall. So would like to have again in this third plot, firstly the Tourist informatics centre and secondly the community hall and the office of Sanjuk ki Rongbha Shnong of Upper Shillong area,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said a departmental meeting would soon be convened to expedite the implementation process and initiate formal procedures for the projects.
“After the inspection I will again call a departmental meeting so that the initiative can be started and we will make sure that these proposals, these projects happen at the earliest possible,” he said.
Describing the four-lane corridor as a transformative infrastructure project for Meghalaya, Tynsong said the road had significantly improved travel time and connectivity into Shillong.
“From Umshyphi bridge upto the end of the four lane it takes up maximum may be 6-7 mins. About the completion of the four lane, I would say that this four lane is the blessing for the state , people and the travellers going, coming to Shillong and going out of Shillong through this particular road,” he said.
He said only finishing works remained and informed that another joint inspection involving officials from the National Highways wing, local traditional institutions, the Mylliem Block administration and the executing agency would soon be conducted to identify stretches requiring rectification.
“The finishing touch has to be done by the company, and very soon they are going to have a joint inspection again by Chief Engineer National Highway along with his team and also with the Sanjuk ki Rongbha Shnong and also BDO of Mylliem block and the company who undertaken the construction of the four lane wherever patches needs to be rectify that decision will be taken on the spot,” he said.
Tynsong further said the land required for the four-lane project had been secured through the coordinated efforts of the Defence Ministry, the Meghalaya Government and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Meghalaya Plans Tourist Informatics Centre, Police and Fire Stations Near Umshyrpi Four-Lane
