Tura: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting at the Circuit House in Tura to assess the status of major projects, including Tura Medical College, sports development initiatives, and the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Officials informed the chief minister that construction of Tura Medical College has reached 78% completion and is expected to be ready by September 2026.
The project, spread across 84 acres, includes 47,000 sq m of academic and administrative space and a 14,096 sq m teaching hospital with a 735-bed capacity.
However, challenges such as faculty recruitment and road safety issues were highlighted during the review.
On Shillong Medical College, the government confirmed that classes will commence by September 2025, with admissions through the All-India quota and state counselling.
Sangma projected that by the mid-2030s, with medical colleges in Shillong, Tura, and USTM operational, Meghalaya will produce over 550 doctors annually, reducing dependence on central pool seats.
The meeting also focused on promoting sports at the grassroots level.
The chief minister called for the development of basic facilities at village and block levels, greater involvement of local clubs, and regular district and state tournaments.
He emphasised capacity-building for coaches and referees and suggested leveraging retired athletes for grassroots training.
On the Jal Jeevan Mission, officials reported 90% completion, but Sangma flagged that nearly 20% of households still face water supply challenges.
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He ordered a state-wide audit to assess the functionality of schemes and stressed corrective measures for technical shortcomings, such as outdated infrastructure and poorly designed DPRs.
Financial constraints were also discussed, with Rs. 2,000 crore in pending payments to contractors and concerns over the sustainability of maintenance costs.
The chief minister urged officials to prepare a roadmap addressing immediate bottlenecks while ensuring long-term sustainability.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and public engagement through initiatives like CM Connect.
