Shillong, April 21: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, announced that the state government will revise its pricing strategy for the Polo Shopping Mall after three consecutive tendering rounds failed to attract bidders.

Speaking to reporters, Dhar admitted that the high base rates previously set by the government had discouraged potential management agencies and businesses from participating. To break the deadlock and ensure the facility becomes functional, authorities now intend to issue a fresh tender with significantly reduced rates.

The Polo Commercial Complex, considered Shillong’s first modern government-owned shopping mall, was constructed under the Shillong Smart City Mission at a cost of approximately Rs. 100.33 crore. The project was completed in December 2024 and formally inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in July 2025.

Officials emphasized that the revised tendering process is aimed at making the mall commercially viable while ensuring that the state-of-the-art facility, built to boost urban infrastructure and retail opportunities in the capital, does not remain idle.