By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 16: Despite its status as a regional hub for education, tourism and commerce, Shillong continues to struggle with poor connectivity to other parts of the Northeast.
In the absence of a railway link and a full-fledged airport, the city’s integration with the rest of the region remains a challenge that many say requires urgent attention.
Shillong currently lacks any rail infrastructure and air connectivity through Umroi Airport is limited to a few cities like Imphal and Aizawl on select days of the week. This is despite the high volume of people travelling to and from the state capital daily.
While Meghalaya serves as a vital transit state for the region, road communication between Shillong and other state capitals is surprisingly underdeveloped. Currently, only a few buses operate to destinations like Silchar and Agartala. In contrast, connectivity with Guwahati is robust, primarily driven by a high frequency of tourist cabs.
Local bus operators acknowledge the gap and see significant potential for expansion.
“We know that there is a lot of demand for routes like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and even Agartala, and all we need now is a good bus service,” one operator said while speaking to The Shillong Times.
Improving road links is seen as a direct boost for local tourism.
Operators pointed to the Shillong-Siliguri route as a successful model, where seven to eight high-end buses equipped with Wi-Fi and bio-toilets are now operational.
With the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) fully functional, transporters are optimistic about introducing similar premium services on other regional routes. They believe that in the absence of rail and major air links, a modernised bus network is the most viable solution to end Shillong’s relative isolation from its neighbouring states.
