The northeast region is "daring to dream" in shaping its growth story, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said here on Monday and announced that in the next few years, eight new five-star hotels are set to be opened in his state.
The country’s "biggest dedicated football stadium is being built in Meghalaya, with a capacity of 40,000, and worth about Rs 800 crore investment, a FIFA-certified football stadium, which can host any international-level game," the Chief Minister said.
He added that Meghalaya is going to host the National Games next year. "We are making full preparations for it." Sangma pointed to the several buildings and other infrastructure projects which are underway in the state.
He was addressing the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 that is being hosted from June 15-16 at Lariti Performing Centre in Shillong. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and several other dignitaries were also present on the dais.
Also read: Meghalaya govt floats ₹2,100-cr tourism plan for tour operators
Sangma also underlined that the time is "crucial" for the northeast, and "we just need to connect the dots." He said the northeast today has the political will, policy and thought process to grow, and its states are "daring to dream".
"Earlier, we didn't dare to dream, but now we are, and that's the confidence we wish to convey to the investors looking to invest in our region," he said.
"In the last eight years, our (state) budget has grown twice as much. And I am confident that by 2028-2029, it will grow to thrice of what the volume was eight years ago," Sangma said in his address.
"Our capital expenditure, the expenditure on infrastructure and investment we do, it has grown six times in the last eight years," he said.
"Our new assembly building is ready, our new secretariat building is getting built, and perhaps in a year or a year-and-a-half, we will be able to start our administrative work from there," Sangma said.
"Meghalaya earlier didn't have a single five-star hotel. In the last five years, we have started two five-star hotels. And, you will be happy to learn that in the next three-four years, eight new five-star hotels are set to be opened, their agreements (are) signed, and work has started on four of them," he added.
He urged all stakeholders to come together to develop the northeast region and bring prosperity. "We just have to ensure that if there is any paralysis, we have to correct it and then move forward," he added.
Follow us
