The Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun has handed over land to the Tourism Department for the state government’s proposed ropeway project.
The project will give Shillong another tourist attraction and will present visitors an alternative route to the Shillong Viewpoint.
The ropeway, the first of its kind in the state, will run from the forest nursery in Riat Laban. It will be set up on 1.34 hectares of land and cost Rs 138 crore.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was present at the handing over ceremony at Shillong Peak today.
The two terminal points on the ropeway route will include a station, concourse, maintenance room, ticket room and office, store room, security room, waiting area, lavatories and parking.
Full enclosed gondolas with automatic doors will be utilised on the ropeway, a government press release stated today.
“Tourism is one of the key sectors of the state, contributing significantly to the economy and it boosts rural entrepreneurship,” Sangma was quoted as saying while recounting the various initiatives undertaken by his government in this area. “These are creating thousands of new job opportunities in the rural and urban areas and making Meghalaya a truly premium tourist destination,” he added.