Shillong: The North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition opened on Monday in Shillong with hundreds of investors in attendance. While the event aimed to project regional progress, serious logistical failures at the Lariti International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture frustrated delegates and raised questions about the state's readiness to host major business gatherings.
Attendees faced significant mobility issues when they were barred from entering the campus by vehicle, forced instead to walk long distances from the main gate to clear access for VIPs. This treatment sparked backlash from participants who viewed the policy as a display of elitist culture. Critics argue that such arrangements undermine the goal of creating an inviting environment for investors, potentially damaging the region's reputation as a functional business destination.
Technical and structural issues further hampered the experience for many visitors. Mobile signals were absent inside the facility, and the provided Wi-Fi could not handle the crowd, leaving delegates unable to conduct necessary business networking. Furthermore, the centre lacks escalators, and the few elevators available were strictly reserved for VIPs. This left ordinary attendees to navigate four storeys of exhibition halls and dining areas on foot.
Many participants left the summit questioning the state's commitment to genuine facilitation. As one critic noted, the event was essentially "more about optics for the powerful than genuine facilitation for investors." These preventable setbacks have cast a shadow over the summit's initial goals of showcasing regional potential.
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