Will continue to engage with all stakeholders for railway connectivity: Meghalaya CM

Exhorting political parties to engage with the government to discuss on railway’s projects in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reassured his government’s commitment to engage with all stakeholders and address their concerns before giving a final nod to implement railway project in the State.
The Conrad Sangma-led government had constituted an all-party committee to examine and find solutions, ways and means to bring about the introduction and construction of railways in the State.
However, the Chief Minister flayed leaders of those political parties who did not attend the all-party committee meeting to discuss matters related to railway connectivity in the State.
“We had invited the people to attend (all-party committee), but we got a negative response from few of the political parties,” Sangma said, even as he wondered why the same legislators who suggested constituting an all-party committee are backing out to be part of the committee.
“I really don’t know what the intention was when they mentioned this (to constitute an all-party committee on railways) in the House. Whatever the case may be since certain political parties have disagreed to come, we will go ahead with whatever political parties are there,” the Chief Minister said.
“I once again appeal to all political parties to engage with us. That is how democracy works, this is a democratic process and the government is providing that platform. Therefore, we should come and take the discussion forward,” he said. Emphasising railway connectivity is crucial for Meghalaya’s long-term economic development, Sangma said, “I have been very clear that from an economic progress point of few railways are important for us whether it is Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills or Garo Hills. But this is a sensitive matter and obviously there are multiple concerns that people have. My cabinet colleagues have come forward and said that it (railway connectivity) should happen.”
However, the Chief Minister said that he had told them that he would take the community and the people of the State along with the government on this matter before laying a railway network in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
“We will engage with the people and try to convince them. We will try to overcome the hurdles and concerns in the larger interest of the State,” he added.
Railways have been opposed in Meghalaya by various pressure groups, including the influential Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), 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.
Due to the opposition, the railway ministry has asked the Meghalaya government for a refund of Rs. 209.37 crore that was sanctioned for land compensation for introducing the railway network in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.