SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Assembly building, which is under construction at the New Shillong township, has seen a surge in its projected expenditure. The construction cost now stands at Rs 200 crore, up by Rs 60 crore, following an approval from the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on Wednesday.
Thomas A Sangma, the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly, informed the press that the price hike is not due to any delays in the project’s timeline. Instead, the escalation is attributed to the expansion of the structural area and various technical issues. “The floor area has become bigger,” Sangma remarked, emphasising that these changes were essential for the project’s success.
It’s worth noting that the assembly building project faced significant setbacks when the dome, a critical part of the new structure, collapsed on May 22 last year.
Sangma provided an update on the recovery process, informing that the clearance of debris, a direct result of the dome’s collapse, is complete. Additionally, a redesign of the dome has been approved, and its construction is already underway. “The new dome is slightly modified and notably lighter than its predecessor, weighing approximately 3,000 metric tonnes,” he added.
An investigation into the collapse, led by IIT Guwahati in September 2022, shed light on the reasons behind the mishap. The report, submitted to the High-Power Committee (HPC), underscored that the dome’s weight was unsustainable due to a combination of its design and the lack of coordination between the various agencies involved. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma too had acknowledged these findings, confirming that the dome’s overwhelming load and mismanagement between the agencies were significant issues.
Despite the challenges, the Speaker remains optimistic about the project’s future. “We are hopeful that the construction of the building will be completed within a year,” he confidently stated.
