No railways in M’laya sans stakeholders nod: Minister | So Good News

SHILLONG, Oct 31: The central government’s plans to connect all capital cities with the rail network are likely to be thwarted in Meghalaya and the state government seems to be in no mood to go ahead with the rail project until and unless all stakeholders including pressure groups are brought on board .
Clarifying the government’s stand on the railway project, Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare said on Monday that the government plans to meet all stakeholders to discuss the matter. “We will not touch it until and unless everyone is brought on board, be it NGOs or pressure groups,” he said.
According to Lamare, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has conveyed to him that he will soon meet the stakeholders to discuss the railway project and compare its pros and cons.
A final conversation about whether to go ahead with the project or scrap it will be taken only after the meeting, Lamare added.
It may be recalled that the CM had recently revealed that there was immense pressure from the Center for the implementation of the railway project in Meghalaya.
Pressure groups in the state are concerned about the railways as they fear that it will lead to a large-scale influx into the state. They are ready to discuss the railways only after the implementation of the Inner Line Permit system.
The proposed Byrnihat-Shillong railway line has remained a non-starter while work on the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line was stopped a few years ago.
As of now, Mendipathar in North Garo Hills is the only railway head in the state.