The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the revised cost escalation for the Indoor Stadium project at Jongksha, with the total project cost increasing from ₹22.75 crore to ₹35.40 crore due to expansion in scope and relocation of the venue.
Sharing the development on X, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Cabinet has also decided to strengthen the approval mechanism for cost escalations in sports infrastructure projects.
Under the earlier system, any escalation in project cost was routed through the Finance Department for approval. However, the Cabinet has now resolved that any cost escalation exceeding 25 percent must be placed before the Cabinet for direct approval.
Explaining the reasons behind the revised budget, Conrad K Sangma stated that the Indoor Stadium project was originally planned at Pomlakrai but was later shifted to a new location at Jongksha. The relocation, along with additional infrastructure requirements linked to the upcoming National Games, significantly expanded the scale of the project.
According to the Chief Minister, the built-up area of the stadium has increased from 12,031 square metres to 15,417 square metres. This expansion has led to substantial enhancement in the overall scope of work, resulting in the revised financial estimate.
The upgraded indoor stadium is expected to play a key role in strengthening Meghalaya’s sports infrastructure and supporting preparations for hosting major sporting events, including the National Games.
The state government has been focusing on improving sports facilities across Meghalaya as part of its broader initiative to promote youth engagement, sporting excellence, and tourism through sports infrastructure development.
The Cabinet’s decision is being seen as an effort to ensure greater transparency and accountability in handling large-scale infrastructure projects while simultaneously meeting the growing demands of modern sporting events.
