Shillong, Apr 3 (UNI) Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar has constituted an all-party committee to discuss matters related to railway connectivity in the State.

The all-party committees would comprise recognized and registered political parties and would be headed by the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma or by a Cabinet Minister.

Chief Secretary Donald Philips Wahlang said the term of reference of the Committee is to examine and find solutions, ways and means to bring about the introduction and construction of railways in Meghalaya.

He said the Committee will assess the cost-benefit analysis of introduction of railways in the

State.

“The committee will seek the views of all stakeholders concerned and submit the recommendation to the state government,”

Wahlang said.

Political parties have been requested to depute two representatives. Moreover, government departments related to the matter shall be invited during deliberation to be held by the Committees.

Railways have been opposed in Meghalaya by various pressure groups, including the influential Khasi Students' Union , claiming it would encourage influx.

“Unless ILP (Inner Line Permit) is implemented in Meghalaya we at the KSU will continue to oppose tooth and nail against railway project in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region,” KSU President, Lambokstar Marngar said, adding that the KSU will discuss railways only after the central government approves ILP for Meghalaya.

ILP is a special permit required by residents of other regions of the country to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.

On December 19, 2019, the Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the central government to introduce the ILP regime into the state by including Meghalaya in the preamble of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.

Several proposed railway projects in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya, including the goods train rail line project from Assam’s Tetelia to Byrnihat area in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, the ambitious 108 km Byrnihat-Shillong rail network, has remained a non-starter.

Currently only Garo Hills in western part of Meghalaya has a rail network connecting Assam with Mendipathar in North Garo Hills district.

The Chief Minister had informed the Assembly recently that due to the opposition and stalled project the central government has asked for a refund of Rs. 209.37 crore that was sanctioned for land compensation for introducing the railway network in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

Moreover, Sangma had said that the state government would like to “carry the people along in such an important decision” of laying a railway network in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.

Noting that the state government “strongly feels” that there is a “need for the railways from the economic perspective of transportation,” the Chief Minister said, railways would lead to more economic development allowing better prices of goods.

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