Funds sanctioned by the central government to introduce railways to East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi could be diverted to East Jaintia Hills if the public there is open to the idea, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed today.
There has been years of opposition to the railways in Khasi Hills ostensibly due to the excessive migration that the trains will, it is feared, open the state up to. Truckers also stand to lose business if good trains begin transporting cargo.
There is currently only one functioning railway line in Meghalaya, which connects Mendipathar to Assam. Even the proposed line just inside the Meghalaya border, up to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi, has been stalled for years. The central government’s dream is to have every state capital connected by rail but bringing that connectivity to Shillong seems nearly hopeless.
With opposition by pressure groups not wilting in the slightest, the central and state governments are now looking at ditching Ri-Bhoi and Khasi Hills.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said that the state government has been actively holding discussions with the Centre and it has been decided that the money that has been outlayed for the rail project will be diverted to more open areas in Meghalaya.
“There is a study that is being conducted in East Jaintia Hills for railway connectivity towards Khliehriat,” the CM said. But that also will depend upon the discussion with the local leadership, local community, the public and different stakeholders, so we will see.”
