By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 10: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H. Pala renewed his call for the introduction of goods trains in the state, asserting that the lack of rail freight connectivity has directly contributed to high prices of essential commodities and the persistence of illegal toll collections.
Highlighting what he described as a hidden economic burden on consumers, Pala said trucks transporting goods from Guwahati to Silchar are compelled to pass through nearly 22 unauthorised toll points, paying between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 at each gate. He maintained that these illegal collections are ultimately reflected in the retail prices of food items and construction materials across Meghalaya.
The MPCC chief pointed to price disparities within the state to underline his argument, noting that essential materials such as cement are sold at significantly higher rates in interior areas like Ladrymbai compared to Shillong. According to him, such variations are the outcome of governance failures and inefficient logistics rather than supply shortages.
Recalling his tenure as a Union Minister, Pala said that railway survey clearances for the Jaintia Hills and Shillong regions had already been secured in the past.
While acknowledging improvements in road infrastructure, including the development of four-lane highways, and enhanced air connectivity through Umroi Airport, he argued that these measures alone cannot deliver sustained economic relief without rail-based freight movement.
He outlined that the introduction of goods trains would reduce dependence on middlemen, help bypass illegal tolls, ease congestion on highways by shifting heavy cargo to rail, and lower transportation costs, thereby benefiting consumers, traders and local producers.
Addressing concerns raised by pressure groups over the possibility of increased illegal influx, Pala stressed the need for informed public dialogue and democratic consensus. He noted that people already enter the state through buses, taxis and flights, and said safeguards to protect indigenous identity must go hand in hand with development.
He reiterated that while concerns relating to security and influx are legitimate, they should be addressed through strong policy and regulatory mechanisms rather than by rejecting infrastructure projects that could spur economic growth.
