New campus brings key excise wings under one roof
Shillong, Aug 28: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday inaugurated the new office building of the Excise Department at Lower Lachaumiere, a consolidated campus intended to host the department’s principal wings that until now operated from temporary structures, officials said.
The event was attended by Excise Minister Brening A. Sangma, Chief Secretary Dr Shakil Ahammad, and senior officers and staff of the department, according to the release. The Chief Minister described the inauguration as a long-awaited milestone after decades of the department functioning from provisional accommodation.
“It gives me joy and satisfaction to inaugurate this building, which has been a long-standing demand of the department,” said the Chief Minister.
Administrative intent and wider infrastructure push
Conrad Sangma linked the new building to the government’s broader push to upgrade administrative infrastructure across the State. He noted improvements over the past eight years in sectors ranging from educational institutions to police stations and health facilities, saying the move was part of an effort to strengthen public administration without disrupting existing arrangements.
Officials said the consolidated campus is expected to improve coordination among excise wings and streamline administrative functions, though the release did not specify timelines for operational consolidation or transfer of all units to the new site.
Excise revenue growth and legal changes
The Chief Minister highlighted significant growth in excise collections during the current term. According to the figures he cited, excise revenue rose from around ₹180 crore eight years ago to more than ₹500 crore at present. He expressed confidence that the department could surpass the ₹1,000-crore mark in future, given the sector’s potential.
Sangma also referred to a Cabinet decision in August 2026 to reclassify VAT on alcoholic liquor under excise duty by amending Section 44 and Schedule V of the Meghalaya Value Added Tax Act. He said the integration of excise and VAT-related arrangements was expected to further strengthen revenue mobilisation.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Excise revenue (approx.) eight years ago | ₹180 crore |
| Current excise revenue (cited) | ₹500 crore+ |
| Government target (aspirational) | ₹1,000 crore |
Revenue use and stakeholder assurances
The Chief Minister told attendees that excise revenue plays a role in funding welfare programmes and said the Government aims to implement changes in a manner that preserves the interests of stakeholders. He framed the legal and administrative adjustments as part of a sustainable reform agenda.
- New Excise Department building located at Lower Lachaumiere, Shillong.
- Excise revenue cited as growing from ~₹180 crore to over ₹500 crore in eight years.
- Cabinet decision in Aug 2026 to bring VAT on alcoholic liquor under excise duty through amendments to the Meghalaya VAT Act.
The release did not provide an itemised breakdown of how additional excise receipts have been allocated across programmes, nor did it include a timeline for implementation of the VAT-to-excise transition. Questions on administrative relocation schedules and potential changes for traders, retailers and local producers remain open pending further departmental notices or circulars.
State officials present at the inauguration underlined the symbolic and practical value of a permanent office campus for staff welfare and administrative efficiency. The Government has stressed that the reforms will be rolled out with stakeholder protections to avoid disruption to the existing ecosystem, as stated by the Chief Minister.
