SHILLONG : The Meghalaya State Planning Board has stated that preparations for hosting the upcoming National Games are progressing steadily, with plans underway to conduct site visits before submitting final recommendations to the government.
Chairman AT Mondal said discussions held on Wednesday focused on assessing the overall preparedness for the major sporting event scheduled for next year. However, the meeting remained inconclusive due to parallel engagements with a visiting central team from the sports department.
“The board has sat to deliberate on the preparedness of the National Games, which is supposed to be held next year. Our meeting was inconclusive because a central team from the sports department is also in Shillong conducting meetings. We will sit again,” Mondal said.
He informed that key aspects of the Games were reviewed, including venues, number of sporting disciplines, infrastructure readiness, athlete preparation, and accommodation arrangements for participants and officials.
“So far so good. We discussed the venues, how many games will be conducted in Meghalaya, infrastructure plans, and preparedness of participants, along with accommodation for athletes and officials coming from different parts,” he added.
Despite receiving detailed reports from officials, the Planning Board emphasized the need for further assessment through physical inspections.
“They have given conclusive details of the preparedness, but we felt the need to sit again and also visit the sites before finalizing our suggestions,” Mondal said.
He highlighted that the preparations are being closely monitored at multiple levels, including the sports department and the Chief Minister’s Office, alongside the Planning Board.
“The sports department and especially the Chief Minister’s Office are vigorously pursuing the preparations. As per our mandate, the Planning Board is also monitoring the progress simultaneously,” he stated.
Mondal also addressed concerns regarding traffic congestion during the Games, noting that roadside parking has been identified as a major issue in Shillong.
“One of the key reasons for traffic snarls is roadside parking. The government is now working aggressively to create more parking spaces in and around the city, which will help decongest traffic,” he said.
He further added that while preliminary suggestions have already been shared, the Board will finalize its recommendations only after conducting site visits to key venues.
“The board will be visiting some sites, and we will sit again as discussions are not yet concluded,” Mondal said.
The National Games are expected to be a major event for Meghalaya, showcasing its growing sports infrastructure and boosting the state’s profile on the national stage.