After years of listening to government ministers periodically mention ropeways as either a tourist or traffic congestion relief measure, the state cabinet took an actual step to bring the idea to reality.
Today, the cabinet approved the Meghalaya Ropeway Bill 2022, which, according to the government, gives a structure on how applications can be made for ropeways, the different procedures to be followed in setting them up, licences and permissions and list the safety measures for ropeways. The bill will now be included in the next Assembly session.
The first route will run up to Shillong Peak. The project has been sanctioned through the New Development Bank at an estimated cost of Rs 140 crore.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that the government will open the tender for this project within the next 15 to 30 days.
Sangma added that the proposed legislation will ensure that standard procedures are put in place, keeping in mind the overall safety of the tourists and locals who will be using the different ropeways that will come up in the state.
On a query whether the government will introduce such transport to ease congestion within the city, the CM said that this is on the government’s radar but requires greater planning as the project would be much larger.
