Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority says the Shillong Peak ropeway project follows all national laws and global environmental standards. Officials claim the project remains fully compliant with statutory requirements. Construction on the 896-metre system kicked off on October 15, 2025.
The project costs ₹151 crore. The New Development Bank provides ₹80.89 crore, while the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region covers the remaining ₹70.11 crore. It features 13 cabins built to European CEN standards. The Authority claims the system will cut greenhouse gas emissions by replacing road travel for visitors.
Public pushback persists. Local mothers and citizens argue that felling trees destroys a vital ecological asset. They fear long-term damage to the environment and public health. The authority countered by noting they held public meetings in September 2022 to address these community worries. The agency stated: "The Tourism Department has ensured that the project adheres to national laws as well as international environmental and social safeguard standards."
Permits cover 2.3257 hectares of forest land diverted for the site. The Forest Department approved the felling of 544 trees. In exchange, the state will perform compensatory afforestation. The Rait Laban Dorbar Pyllun leased 7,416.95 square metres for the project in January 2023. Additional clearances came from the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Airports Authority of India. Officials insist the project did not require separate clearance under the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment notification.
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