Shillong: Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar has announced that the state government is working towards doubling Meghalaya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and transforming it into a USD 10 billion economy by 2028.
Speaking at the Republic Day celebration at Polo Grounds, the Governor highlighted the impressive growth of the state’s economy, noting that Meghalaya’s GDP had risen from Rs 23,235 crore in FY15 to Rs 53,057 crore in FY24.
He credited the growth to key sectors such as infrastructure development, tourism, housing, power, water supply, and information technology.
“Our government’s vision is to make Meghalaya a USD 10 billion economy by 2028, and we are steadily progressing towards that goal,” Vijayashankar stated.
He emphasised that comprehensive strategies are being developed across various sectors, with a strong focus on mobilising investments to drive growth.
The Governor detailed the significant strides made in improving the state’s infrastructure, noting that over 2,500 km of roads had been built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the last five years.
Additionally, road works covering 568 km have been sanctioned in the past two years, improving connectivity across the state.
He also mentioned that the central government had recently approved Rs 2,500 crore worth of mega projects for road development, acknowledging the state’s strong performance in this sector.
On urban development, Vijayashankar assured that the state government is committed to making urban spaces more sustainable and vibrant.
Several major projects have already been initiated, including the construction of a new Secretariat at Mawdiangdiang, a Skills Hub, a Unity Mall, and a new Water Supply Scheme for Shillong, along with improvements to sports infrastructure.
Additionally, the Shillong Integrated Command and Control Centre, which is equipped with 328 cameras, is set to improve urban service delivery and traffic management.
The Governor also highlighted the state’s focus on promoting private investment to spur economic growth and create employment opportunities.
Under the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act 2024, and the State Industrial Policy, 90% of non-managerial jobs created by new industries are reserved for locals.
Land banks are being established in accordance with the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act and the laws of the three autonomous district councils to foster growth while respecting local rights.
In the housing sector, the government has constructed 1.18 lakh homes under the ‘Housing for All’ scheme, with nearly 83,000 houses completed in rural areas in the past two years.
The urban areas have also seen progress, with 3,097 of the 4,554 sanctioned houses being completed.
Vijayashankar also praised the state’s achievements in water supply, noting that fewer than 4,500 households had functional tap connections in 2019.
Today, over 5.29 lakh households are receiving clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
On the power front, the state has been able to reduce technical and commercial losses in the power sector from 32% to 16%, and the Governor assured that there will be no scheduled load shedding in 2025 due to the measures undertaken by MeECL to improve the power sector.
Tourism infrastructure is also receiving substantial investments, with projects such as the Shillong Peak Ropeway, the redevelopment of MICE infrastructure at Mawkhanu and Umiam Lake, and the establishment of around 600 homestays under the Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme.
Furthermore, the state has promoted indigenous products, and four more local products received the prestigious GI Tag in 2024, adding to the state’s rich cultural heritage.
The Governor also touched upon the state’s advancements in early childhood development, with significant reductions in maternal and infant mortality rates.
He praised the Chief Minister Safe Motherhood Scheme, which has benefitted over 3 lakh pregnant women, improving transportation, diagnostic, and delivery services.
In terms of youth development, the state government is focusing on sports excellence, with football being central to the state’s cultural identity.
The launch of Mission Football 2.0 aims to build 100 grassroots football infrastructures and provide support to clubs and academies, creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in the process.
With these ambitious initiatives in place, Governor Vijayashankar’s address painted an optimistic picture of Meghalaya’s future as the state sets its sights on becoming a thriving, USD 10 billion economy by 2028.
