Meghalaya Urban Development Authority Reports Revenue Growth Amidst Infrastructure Struggles

Shillong, August 30, 2024 — The Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has announced a substantial rise in revenue collection over the past three years, despite ongoing challenges in urban infrastructure. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar revealed that MUDA’s revenue increased from ₹12.43 lakh in 2021-2022 to ₹39.26 lakh in 2022-2023, though it fell to ₹26.56 lakh in 2023-2024.

This revenue growth contrasts sharply with the issues facing the state’s urban transport sector. Dhar reported that 66 State Transport Public Service (STPS) buses are currently non-operational, with 53 set to be auctioned and 13 earmarked for repair and use by educational institutions outside Shillong. Additionally, three Red Maxi Cabs from the Shillong State Public Transport Service (SSPTS) are out of service, awaiting assessment.

The auction of the defunct STPS buses is approaching its final stages, with tenders soon to be issued. The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) is also awaiting evaluations from the District Transport Office for the non-functional Maxi Cabs before presenting the results to the Condemnation Committee.

Further scrutiny was directed at the slow adoption of digital payments within the SMB, despite the decade-old Digital India initiative. Sohiong legislator Synshar Kupar Roy highlighted the inconvenience caused by the limited online payment options.

Dhar responded by noting that digital payment services are available for specific functions such as business licenses, water tanker services, plumber registrations, and water connections. The board also accepts payments via point-of-sale (POS) devices and UPI. To enhance digital transactions, MUDA is collaborating with the National Informatics Centre and Axis Bank to implement the “PayU Biz” payment gateway, aiming to provide broader digital payment solutions for urban services in Meghalaya.