Shillong, Nov 5 (PTI) Newly inducted Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday ruled out withdrawing or relocating the proposed Rs 150 crore Shillong ropeway project, asserting that the state government would proceed with its execution despite opposition.
“The government will proceed with executing the Shillong Ropeway Project,” Lyngdoh said, alleging that opposition to the initiative could be politically motivated ahead of the next Assembly elections.
“I will not rule out political instigation because we are over a year away from general elections. People will like to see that there is instability. Opponents of the government like to report back that the MDA-II promised so many projects but failed, and it failed because they made sure that it failed,” he said.
The minister said the government was committed to taking the project forward while continuing consultations with stakeholders.
On the issue of the trade licence, Lyngdoh said the company executing the project had applied for it in May and that the licence was expected to be issued shortly.
He also confirmed that the lock on the company’s premises had been broken on Wednesday.
Ruling out the possibility of shifting the project to another location, the minister said it was not something that could simply be relocated.
“It’s not a cut-and-paste job that you will take it somewhere. It is not possible to take away the ropeway project somewhere else,” he said.
Responding to environmental concerns, particularly those relating to water bodies, Lyngdoh maintained that Shillong Peak was situated more than 3.15 km from the proposed project sites.
He said the government was willing to take stakeholders to Sikkim to familiarise themselves with ropeway infrastructure and its functioning.
On objections regarding the consultation process and demands for a public hearing, Lyngdoh said the government had repeatedly engaged with the Raid Laban Durbar Pyllun and the seven Durbars, maintaining that public consultations had been convened.
The Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, Meghalaya’s first passenger ropeway initiative, was approved by the state Cabinet in September 2022.
President Droupadi Murmu virtually laid its foundation stone on January 16, 2024, while Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma later unveiled the foundation stone at Shillong Peak on December 4 that year.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 150 crore, will connect Madan Laban with the Shillong Viewpoint near Shillong Peak.
It is intended to provide an alternative mode of access to the popular tourist destination, reduce vehicular congestion and promote tourism.
The project is being funded through Rs 80.89 crore from the New Development Bank and Rs 70.11 crore under the Centre’s PM-DevINE scheme. Construction began on October 15, 2025, with completion targeted for October 2028.
The project came under scrutiny after the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) locked the construction site on October 27, citing the absence of a mandatory trading licence and other local clearances, after which the district administration broke open the lock on Wednesday.
The Tourism Department has maintained that the contractor’s trading licence from the council was pending. PTI JOP RG
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.