Shillong Peak ropeway has all clearances, says Meghalaya Tourism

Meghalaya's Tourism Department has defended the proposed Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, saying it holds all required statutory clearances and will not affect water sources or damage the tree canopy, officials said on Tuesday, October 27.

The clarification followed concerns raised by local stakeholders and came after a briefing on October 22 attended by members of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) and others.

The department's main points

• The project site is 3.15 km from Lum Shyllong.
• The ropeway cables and passenger cabins will run above the tree canopy.
• The ropeway would cut the number of vehicles going up to Shillong Peak, easing congestion and lowering emissions.

The department said it had held several consultations and public meetings with local communities and stakeholders while planning the project. Concerns raised were examined and addressed through an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), which it said was reviewed by independent experts and approved by the New Development Bank.

Tourism and jobs

The department said the ropeway would give visitors another way to reach Shillong Peak, reduce reliance on road travel and help manage tourist traffic. It also expects the project to create jobs for local residents and strengthen Meghalaya's tourism sector by improving access to one of the region's best-known viewpoints.

It thanked those who attended the October 22 briefing, where officials made a detailed presentation, and said it remained committed to engaging with affected communities and that officials were available to answer further questions.

Why it matters

The ropeway has become one of Shillong's most debated projects. Local groups have raised concerns about its impact on the area around the peak. The dispute later moved to the ground: a Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council inspector sealed the lower terminal site at Madan Laban, and the state government responded by filing an FIR, as NEInsider has reported.

The department's statement sets out the government's position; the concerns raised by the JAC were not detailed in the report.