Shillong Gets Its First Mall: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates Rs 100 Cr Polo Commercial Complex

Meghalaya: Rooftop solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems further underline the eco-conscious vision of the project.

In a historic moment for Meghalaya, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today inaugurated Shillong’s first shopping mall—the Polo Commercial Complex. The Rs 100.33 crore project, developed under the Smart Cities Mission, marks a transformative leap in the capital’s urban infrastructure and commercial landscape.

Prioritising sustainability and technology, the complex includes a 75 KL sewage treatment plant, a water treatment unit, 110 CCTV cameras, and an advanced Building Management System (BMS). Rooftop solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems further underline the eco-conscious vision of the project.

Spanning 1.26 acres with a built-up area of 1.70 lakh sq ft, the mall features 109 shops, eight office spaces, and a 15,270 sq ft food court and gaming zone. With five lifts, 12 escalators, five emergency exits, 86 car parking spaces, and 50 two-wheeler slots, the facility is designed to global standards.

The foundation stone of the Polo Commercial Complex was laid on October 28, 2020, and the construction was completed in December 2024.

With this milestone, Shillong joins the ranks of Indian cities embracing next-generation urbanisation through smart commercial hubs.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy CM and Urban Affairs Minister Snaiwbhalang Dhar, Health Minister Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, and senior officials, the Union Minister unveiled the state-of-the-art facility. The mall stands as a symbol of modernisation and economic revitalisation in the hill state.

The inauguration of the Polo Mall is part of Sitharaman’s four-day official visit to Meghalaya from July 10 to 13, 2025. The visit aims to inaugurate key infrastructure projects, review ongoing schemes, and engage directly with various stakeholders.

On July 11, the Finance Minister will inaugurate the Northeast Conclave and lay the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) campus at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. She will also visit Shillong Tech Park at Umsawli and open an exhibition highlighting the achievements of local farmers and entrepreneurs at the Lariti International Centre.

On July 12, Smt. Sitharaman will host a high-level interaction with industry leaders at the Courtyard Marriott, Shillong, before heading to Laitkynsew Village to engage with Women Self-Help Groups, Lakhpati Didis, and Farmer Producer Organisations.

She will also visit Siej Village to interact with beneficiaries of the innovative Payment for Ecosystem Services Programme.

The Minister’s visit will conclude on July 13 with a public programme in Sohbar Village one of the 96 villages under the Vibrant Villages Programme and a stop at Ram Krishna Ashram School in Sohra, wrapping up a development-driven, people-centric tour.

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