Shillong: The Rs. 200-crore railway project in Meghalaya faces an imminent threat of cancellation as the Centre has set a deadline for a decision within the next few months.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma confirmed the urgency of the situation, revealing that the state has requested additional time to finalise discussions.
“I’ve asked the Union Minister for more time to engage in further talks, but the timeline is tight,” Sangma told reporters.
“If we don’t make progress soon, this high-potential economic project could be scrapped,” he added.
Sangma recently met with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who raised concerns about the stalled Byrnihat and Shillong railway projects.
The two projects involve a 22-km Tetelia-Byrnihat line and a 108-km Byrnihat-Shillong line.
The Tetelia-Byrnihat project, with a budget of Rs 496 crore, has faced significant opposition, particularly due to concerns over an influx of outsiders.
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“We need to involve all stakeholders and ensure there is broad community support before making a major decision,” Sangma emphasised, highlighting the importance of consensus.
The Railway Minister also warned that if the land acquisition issue is not resolved within the next few months, the Rs. 200 crore allocated for the project—currently held by the Deputy Commissioner since 2017—will be reclaimed.
Failure to resolve the issue could lead to the cancellation of the project, with the government potentially redirecting focus to other regional initiatives.
