By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 19: The issues resulting from the land exchange with the Forest Department have caused a delay in the Rs 138-crore Shillong Ropeway project, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh announced on Thursday.
Although the project was proposed some time ago, construction has not yet begun on the project.
Lyngdoh gave an explanation for the delay, stating that the land allocated for the project by the Forest department must be replaced with a parcel of land that has to be awarded to the department.
“The obstacle of requiring approval from the Forest department has been removed, and we should be able to request expressions of interest by December,” Lyngdoh stated.
The minister expressed optimism that the project cost would not escalate and that, in the event that it did, the government would take appropriate action.
The Shillong Ropeway service will begin at the Madan Laban terminal and will go towards Lumparing and the Shillong Peak viewing platform.
There will be 12 cables at first, and the engineering will be completed in accordance with European standards.
The first passenger ropeway project in the state, which is estimated to cost Rs 138 crore, was authorised by the Meghalaya Cabinet in September of last year.
Additionally, the Cabinet had passed the Meghalaya Ropeway Bill, 2022, which paved the way by outlining the procedures to be followed, the entities responsible for granting the necessary licences and approvals, and the application process for ropeways.