Laitumkhrah market complex to be completed by February: Dhar

The much-awaited Laitumkhrah market complex constructed under the Smart City project is targeted to be completed by February next year.

Informing this after conducting an inspection of the market on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said, “I am happy to see the work is progressing in a positive way. Hopefully, we will be able to complete the project by the last week of February 2024.”

The project cost is Rs 38 crore. Dhar was also accompanied by cabinet minister and East Shillong legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh besides government officials.

He said that the department is also hopeful to be able to handover the building by the first week of March.

“Once completed, we will move to the second phase of the project,” he added.

Asked, Dhar said that the time of completion was extended because of the Covid pandemic. According to him, as per the detailed project report, the market complex has over 183 stalls and a parking space which can accommodate up to 100 vehicles.

Speaking to reporters, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that she was very happy that the deputy CM had taken out time to inspect the project adding “we are satisfied with the progress of work”.

Stating that the integrated project will be something that people of Laitumkhrah will remember in years to come, she said, “This is in honor of my late father Peter Garnette Marbaniang. Twenty seven years after he is no longer with us, we have brought this project for the people of Laitumkhrah.”

According to her, the building will have facilities for vendors, parking space and will be to the comfort of shoppers.

Lyngdoh also maintained that the first beneficiaries must be the people of Laitumkhrah and that is something which they cannot compromise.

“We must empower hundreds of young people who have a business build and a business mind as not anyone can engage in business. We will have an evaluation system that will be as per requirements. We will see what we can do to utilize these facilities efficiently,” she said.

Further, the East Shillong legislator said that the second part of the project is also going to be big as they are looking at inclusion of dorbar land.

“Now that the dorbar has land adjacent to the market, we are looking at bringing for them a huge community infrastructure which will include office for the dorbar, office for the seng samla, office for the seng longkmie, space for conference, space for parking so it will be a good thingWe will work hand in hand with the government,” she said.  

To a query, Lyngdoh said that people will forget the difficult times they faced on completion of the project.

“This integrated project will be the best thing to lift further the town of Laitumkhrah and the city of Shillong and I hope that it will be a place where we will be able to generate happiness and employment. Good things will happen in this complex,” she added.