East Garo Hills turns fifty as Meghalaya opens World Bank-funded road work at Williamnagar
30 October 2026
Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district has completed fifty years, and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma attended the golden jubilee celebration at its headquarters town, Williamnagar. The State honoured the leaders of the statehood and district movement, among them Captain Williamson Sangma, Choronsing Sangma and Lolith R Sangma. The Chief Minister opened the upgradation of 13.989 km of internal roads in Williamnagar, costing ₹26.92 crore under the World Bank-funded Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project. He also opened the widening of the Rongrenggre-Simsanggre Nengkra road from km 10 to km 16 at ₹15.98 crore under RIDF XXVIII, and a 4.40 km interlocking concrete block road in the town at ₹4.70 crore. The day's projects also included the Rongon bridge, meant to improve links with rural areas, and eight units of MIG housing at ₹3.61 crore.
In plain words
RIDF Rural Infrastructure Development Fund — A NABARD fund that lends to States for rural roads, irrigation and other rural works.
Williamson Sangma Captain Williamson A. Sangma — Leader of the Meghalaya statehood movement and the State's first Chief Minister.