Shillong: In a symbolic shift from protocol to public transport, legislators in Meghalaya on Friday left their official cars behind and travelled by bus to the New Shillong Township, where Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma presented a series of major infrastructure projects shaping the state’s future administrative hub.
The visit, organised to mark the conclusion of the Budget Session, took MLAs through the upcoming state secretariat complex and the new legislative assembly building, offering them a first-hand look at the scale and progress of construction in the township.
The journey itself turned into an informal interaction, with legislators exchanging views and receiving briefings on the developments underway, a report said.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the projects represented a long-term transformation of Meghalaya’s administrative and institutional framework.
He described development as a collective process, adding that allowing elected representatives to directly experience the projects would help create a shared vision for the state’s future growth.
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The visit also doubled as the launch of a new urban mobility initiative, with the chief minister flagging off 15 modern city buses under the brand ‘Ka Bos jong ngi’ (Our Bus) as part of a pilot programme aimed at decongesting Shillong and strengthening organised public transport.
Under the trial phase, the buses will operate every 20–30 minutes on the IIM Shillong–Upper Shillong route via Civil Hospital.
Officials said the one-month pilot will allow for public feedback before expanding services to additional routes with improved frequency.
The new fleet is equipped with GPS tracking, air-conditioning, mobile charging points and digital ticketing systems, and will be supported by a dedicated mobile application offering real-time tracking and online booking facilities.
