Shillong: The Meghalaya government is considering lowering the base bidding price for the newly built Polo market complex after repeated attempts to attract participants failed.
The market, which was inaugurated last year, has not yet been made functional due to a lack of bidders during multiple rounds of tendering.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, said the authorities had issued tender notices several times but received no response. As a result, the government now plans to reissue the tender with a revised, more competitive rate to draw interest.
He indicated that the previously fixed rate might have been too high, discouraging potential bidders. The government is now exploring the possibility of reducing the price to make the project more attractive.
Dhar further explained that the Polo market currently remains under the care of the Shillong Municipal Board, and operations have been kept on hold until a suitable party is finalised through the tendering process.
Maintaining that the system remains fair, he said the contract will be awarded to the highest bidder through a transparent process.
He also noted that if the revised pricing still fails to generate interest, the government may explore alternative methods to operationalise the market, keeping in mind the interests of local residents.
On a separate note, Dhar said a decision is yet to be taken on how the recently inaugurated parking facility near the Additional Secretariat building will be managed, adding that the department itself is likely to oversee its operations.
Meghalaya govt may lower base bidding price for Polo Market complex after failed tenders
The market, which was inaugurated last year, has not yet been made functional due to a lack of bidders during multiple rounds of tendering.
