SHILLONG, Feb 16 — Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar opened the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly’s budget session on Monday with an address spotlighting the state’s rapid economic rise and its Vision 2032 roadmap. He said Meghalaya recorded a real GSDP growth of 9.66% in 2024–25, making it the second-fastest growing state in India after Tamil Nadu and nearly double the national average, and noted the state has sustained roughly 10% average real growth for three consecutive years since the COVID-19 downturn.
The Governor highlighted that Meghalaya’s economy has almost doubled — from Rs 29,508 crore in 2018 to Rs 59,626 crore in 2025 — and said this momentum puts the state on track to meet its aim of tripling the economy from 2022 levels by 2032. He linked the target to the Meghalaya Excellence Framework and Mission 10, which aim to place the state among India’s top 10 on per capita income and Sustainable Development Goals indicators.
Key growth drivers named by the Governor include continued high growth, private investments exceeding Rs 1,800 crore with a target of Rs 8,000 crore by 2032, and major projects such as a Rs 330 crore Varun Beverages plant and the Rs 300 crore Taj Umiam Resort. Externally aided projects worth Rs 12,166 crore — about 72% funded as central grants — cover roads, power, agriculture, water and tourism.
Infrastructure gains feature a road network of more than 13,000 km, including 1,181 km of national highways, and over 2,960 km developed since 2018 at a reported cost of Rs 5,000 crore. The PMGSY completed 1,180 schemes connecting around 300 habitations, and the proposed Rs 22,864 crore Shillong–Silchar Greenfield Corridor is expected to boost connectivity. Air access is set to improve with plans to expand Shillong Airport and further develop Baljek Airport.
On border and security issues, the Governor said 54 pillars have been erected in Hahim and 83 in Gizang under a 2022 Assam–Meghalaya MoU covering six disputed areas. Security measures include closer BSF coordination, nearly 3,000 police recruitments, 14 housing projects for personnel and the new Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School in Baghmara. He added that recent criminal law reforms will modernise justice with digital tools.
Governance reforms earned the state a third-place national ranking in Compliance Reduction, and bailout packages were provided to Autonomous District Councils — Rs 115 crore to GHADC and Rs 27 crore to JHADC — to clear salary arrears. Social-sector achievements cited include 83% rural household tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission, 2.13 crore person-days generated under MGNREGA, 1.55 lakh houses under PMAY-G, more than 53,000 self-help groups, and PM-KISAN support for 1.96 lakh farmers, alongside stepped-up work in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries.
Concluding his address, the Governor called for constructive debate and unity in the Assembly, urging: “As we advance towards Vision 2032, with the goal of tripling Meghalaya’s economy from 2022 levels, let us move forward with purpose and conviction for a thriving, prosperous Meghalaya.”
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/02/17/meghalaya-on-track-to-triple-its-economy-by-2032-guv/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-02-17 02:34:00
