Meghalaya tourism minister says ropeway project cannot be withdrawn

Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdhoh told reporters on November 5, 2026 that the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project has already obtained every required permission and that the formal agreements signed with local bodies and security agencies make it impossible to roll back the initiative. He emphasized that the scheme, which has been under consideration for several decades, is now beyond the stage where it can be withdrawn without serious consequences.

Approvals and agreements

Lyngdhoh detailed the approval timeline. The government received written preliminary consent from the local Dorbar in 2022, followed by a formal land-lease agreement between the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun and the Tourism Department in 2023. In the same year, No-Objection Certificates were secured from the Airports Authority of India, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, and land for compensatory plantation was transferred to the department. A Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 created a bilateral agreement with a validity period of 30 years. The minister noted that the ropeway would reduce travel time from Terminal 1 to the viewpoint to around three minutes.

Opposition and its timing

According to Lyngdhoh, objections to the ropeway began only last year, despite the project having progressed through all required procedures. He said opponents have not provided explanations beyond a stated unwillingness to support the scheme. The minister also referred to earlier opposition by Green Tech to the Lumpongdeng Island project, pointing out that a boat house leased in 2008 had remained as a permanent structure for approximately 18 years. He questioned why temporary arrangements proposed for the ropeway were now attracting resistance and highlighted that public-meeting documents showed limited participation, with attendees having signed the agreement.

Environmental and security considerations

Lyngdhoh cited a 2022 notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, noting that an expert committee had recognised aerial ropeways as an environmentally friendly transportation option. He added that the project involved coordination at the level of the Prime Minister’s Office and the President’s visit, and that clearances from the Indian Army and Air Force were significant given the security sensitivities of the location.

Potential impact on future projects

The minister warned that reversing decisions after clearances and formal agreements could undermine confidence in Meghalaya as an investment destination. He said the existing agreement does not provide a cooling-off period for revisiting feasibility after a few months or years, and that halting the ropeway could have repercussions beyond the single scheme. Lyngdhoh maintained that the ropeway project had followed the required approval process and cautioned that any attempt to discontinue it could affect Meghalaya’s development plans and its ability to attract future investments.