CM Lays Foundation Stone for ₹1,188 Crore New Secretariat Complex in New Shillong

The Event and Decision

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma laid the foundation stone for the new Secretariat building at Umsawli in New Shillong on Tuesday. The ceremony occurred on the occasion of Meghalaya's 53rd Statehood Day, and the Chief Minister said that the New Secretariat is more than just a building, representing the government's vision for the future of Shillong and paving the way for the city's expansion.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, and Cabinet Ministers Abu Taher Mondal, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Marcuise Marak and Comingone Ymbon.

Project Scale and Specifications

The upcoming secretariat building will rise on a 53-acre plot with an estimated cost of ₹1,188 crore, and the project, divided into two phases, will include a Secretariat and Directorate campus in the New Shillong administrative township.

Phase 1 includes a secretariat and directorate campus with 68 offices, a 700-seat auditorium, and facilities for 1,829 staff members. Phase 2 will feature a complex with a 1.25 lakh sq.m floor area, accommodating 56 directorates, 4,746 staff, and two 200-seat auditoriums.

Timeline and Construction Progress

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced that the new Secretariat building at Umsawli is scheduled for completion by mid-2027, during an inspection of the construction site of the administrative complex in May 2025. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Rs 1,188-crore project, which was at the time underway in full swing. The excavation and foundation work was going on at a fast pace.

Strategic Importance and Vision

The new administrative city is seen as an important aspect in decongesting the Shillong city, which currently houses all the government offices in close clusters next to the Police Bazaar, the commercial hub of Shillong. The Chief Minister highlighted New Shillong as a growth centre, noting that the government has already planned investments totalling ₹5,500 crore for the New Shillong area, with additional investments of up to ₹10,000 crore in the pipeline.

Once operational, the Secretariat will bring various government departments under one roof, improving coordination, administrative efficiency and citizen service delivery.

Broader New Shillong Township Context

New Shillong is a planned twin city and urban development project adjacent to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, India, envisioned as a modern administrative and knowledge city designed to decongest Shillong and support sustainable urban growth with strategic infrastructure, public services, and institutional zones. The project includes areas such as Umsawli, Mawpdang, and Mawkhanu and has been designated by the state government as a major growth centre for governance, education, innovation and economic activity.

New Shillong is being envisioned as Meghalaya's economic engine, driven by four sectors — tourism, sports and culture, education and skilling, and technology — with the potential to generate over 1.5 lakh jobs and attract new industries.