Shillong, June 2 — In a crucial push to ensure infrastructure readiness for the National Games 2027, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday conducted an on-ground inspection of the SSA Ground and Second Ground at Polo in Shillong.
Addressing the media following his visit, the Chief Minister emphasized the urgency of completing pending works and outlined plans for a comprehensive upgrade of sports facilities in the heart of the state’s football ecosystem.
“We are working to ensure all infrastructures are ready on time for the National Games in 2027,” said Sangma. “We visited the SSA ground on the request of the entire team from SSA. There is work going on for the drainage so that the water can easily flow out, and there has been some delay in the work because of multiple reasons.”
Citing earlier unresolved issues that hindered timely execution, Sangma assured that efforts were now on track. “There were problems earlier because of which the initial plans couldn’t be completed. So there was a bit of an issue. Now we are able to resolve that to make sure it is completed at the earliest.”
With over a hundred football clubs gearing up for the upcoming league season, the Chief Minister underscored the non-negotiable timeline. “The league is about to start, and the season is already here. The schedule cannot be shifted and changed too many times, and hence there is an urgency to complete this.”
To accelerate the process, the government has mobilized all relevant stakeholders. “We have called the entire sports department, the engineers, and the contractor concerned to make sure this is completed at the earliest. They have given us a commitment that in about 8–9 days they will be able to complete. By the 9th or 10th day, the actual league matches can start,” he added.
The Chief Minister also noted that beyond temporary fixes, a long-term vision is essential to uplift the iconic venue. “This is a very, very important stadium. The heart of football is here in Shillong, and all the clubs play here. There is a lack of overall planned infrastructure in this area.”
Sangma disclosed that the Shillong Sports Association (SSA) had requested the formulation of a master plan. “The members of the SSA have asked me to work out and see how we could have a master plan to increase the gallery, improve the overall look, and enhance the facilities around this stadium so that it could become a much better set-up.”
On the possibility of using the stadium for National Games events, Sangma added, “Keeping in mind the National Games coming up, this could also be one of the venues where we could have some of the matches taking place.”
Reflecting on past challenges, he pointed out the stadium’s long dormancy. “For the last seven years, it was not used. It was only in 2022–23 that, after seven years of not being used, we finally managed to complete the work. It’s not a greenfield project—it’s a brownfield project.”
As Meghalaya intensifies its preparations for the National Games, the Chief Minister’s visit signals a renewed focus on sports infrastructure, strategic planning, and timely execution.
