Shillong: Meghalaya Governor C H Vijayashankar on Monday said the state is poised to triple the size of its economy by 2032, citing strong post-pandemic growth, rising investments and a long-term development roadmap anchored in governance reforms and infrastructure expansion.
Addressing the opening day of the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Governor said the state has recorded a real GSDP growth of 9.66 per cent and has emerged as the second fastest-growing state in the country, maintaining an average growth rate of around 10 per cent for three consecutive years after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said Meghalaya’s economy has nearly doubled over seven years, expanding from Rs. 29,508 crore in 2018 to about Rs. 59,626 crore in 2025, reflecting what he described as the resilience and economic potential of the state’s people.
Referring to the government’s ‘Vision 2032’ roadmap, supported by the Meghalaya Excellence Framework, Vijayashankar said the long-term strategy aims to place Meghalaya among the top 10 states in the country in terms of per capita income and performance on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Governor also highlighted significant progress in governance and law and order, noting that recruitment for nearly 3,000 police posts is nearing completion and infrastructure upgrades are underway.
He referred to the inauguration of the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Baghmara and ongoing work on erecting boundary pillars along the Assam–Meghalaya border following an inter-state agreement.
On infrastructure and investment, he said projects worth over Rs. 12,000 crore are under implementation across sectors such as roads, power, agriculture and tourism.
Private investment of more than Rs. 1,800 crore has already been mobilised, with a target of crossing Rs. 8,000 crore by 2032.
Major connectivity initiatives highlighted in the address include the proposed Rs. 22,000-crore Shillong–Silchar greenfield high-speed corridor, expansion of the Shillong airport and development of heliport facilities.
More than 2,960 km of roads have been built since 2018, while hundreds of rural habitations have been connected under the PMGSY programme.
In the digital and social sectors, the Governor said 97 per cent of villages now have mobile connectivity and over 6,900 villages are linked with broadband services.
He added that more than 83 per cent of rural households have tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, while healthcare infrastructure has expanded with the launch of the Shillong Medical College in 2025.
Per capita health expenditure now stands at Rs. 7,690, more than double the national average, while education spending has risen to Rs. 3,654 crore under Mission Education.
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Tourism has also seen a sharp rise, with footfall increasing by nearly 60 per cent since 2022, supported by homestay initiatives that have generated local employment opportunities.
Preparations are also underway for the 2027 National Games, with sports infrastructure being developed across districts.
On environmental sustainability, Vijayashankar said community-led programmes such as GREEN Meghalaya are protecting over 51,000 hectares of forest land, while efforts are being made to shift towards scientific mining practices following the ban on rat-hole coal mining.
The Governor also informed the House that a judicial commission of inquiry has been constituted to investigate the recent explosion at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills District, which claimed at least 31 lives.
The state budget for 2026–27 is scheduled to be presented on February 20, and the Budget Session will continue till February 27.
