Sanbor Shullai Calls Shillong Ropeway Meeting as Protests Continue

Shillong Ropeway row: Minister calls meeting as protests enter fifth day

Shillong, Nov 10

The meeting, called by the 19-South Shillong Advisory Committee, will be held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, according to a letter issued by the committee on Tuesday.

Shullai, who is the chairman of the advisory committee, will chair the meeting to seek views and suggestions from residents and various organisations on the implementation of the ambitious infrastructure project.

The development comes amid an indefinite sit-in demonstration being staged by a section of women under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Shillong.

The protesters have opposed the project at its proposed location and have demanded that the government either scrap the ropeway plan or shift it to an alternative site.

The proposed Shillong Ropeway Project is part of broader efforts to improve urban connectivity and ease traffic congestion in the rapidly growing hill city.

However, the project has triggered concerns among sections of local residents and community organisations over its location and the potential impact on surrounding areas.

The protestors have been demanding that the project either be scrapped or shifted to another location.

Several traditional bodies and social organisations have also been drawn into the debate, prompting the local legislator and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai to convene a wider consultation with stakeholders.

The proposed project is expected to connect key locations through an aerial transport system, reducing dependence on road-based travel.

However, concerns over the project's alignment, location and its potential impact on local communities have turned the infrastructure proposal into a contentious issue, forcing the government to seek public feedback before moving ahead with its implementation.

The committee has asked stakeholders to place their concerns and suggestions before the meeting, which will subsequently be submitted to the Meghalaya government.

The consultation is being closely watched as the state government seeks to push infrastructure development while addressing growing concerns among local communities over the proposed project's location and implementation.

— IANS