The divisive issue of whether railways should be introduced into Khasi-Jaintia Hills is back in the headlines on a daily basis and today Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh stated that trains do not feature in his department’s plans for the tourism sector in Meghalaya.
Railways connecting Khasi-Jaintia Hills to the rest of the country are seen as a boon for those who believe that they will reduce prices of commodities and ease road and highway congestion. On the other hand, pressure groups, in particular, are adamantly opposed to them as they fear migrants will swarm into Meghalaya on these same trains.
Lyngdoh, before he joined politics, was a leader of the Khasi Students Union, one of the prime opponents of the railways.
Today, he said that it is important to get a sense of the public’s feelings towards railways before making a decision on them but that a public hearing alone would be insufficient. Instead, he underlined the importance of understanding public sentiment and striking a balance between development and preserving the state’s demographic structure.
“Generally, we try to elicit public opinion, not necessarily through formal routes like public hearings, but by understanding the pulse of the people and the need to balance development with protecting the demographic structure of the state,” Lyngdoh said.
When asked if railway connectivity would boost tourism in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh dismissed the idea, stating that no studies have been conducted to support this claim. “I have always maintained that in Meghalaya, most tourist destinations would benefit more from improved road connectivity. As Tourism Minister, I haven’t even considered railways from that perspective,” he added.
Lyngdoh reiterated the state government’s decision to drop the railway head project to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi due to resistance and opposition from several quarters. Regarding the Jaintia Hills, where conflicting views persist among legislators, pressure groups and stakeholders, he stressed the government’s responsibility to find common ground and make decisions based on public sentiment.
Meanwhile, on the extension of the Umroi Airport runway, Lyngdoh stated that the government aims to complete the expansion by the end of 2026. However, the airport will need to expand into land that is controlled by the defence authorities, so a compensatory swap has to be agreed on first.
