The Meghalaya government has defended its proposed Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, a Rs 151-crore initiative, amidst concerns raised by sections of the public. The government asserts that the project is being implemented in compliance with all statutory requirements, taking into account environmental, social, and community concerns.
The Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA) issued a clarification stating that the project has been planned in accordance with national laws as well as international environmental and social safeguard standards. The project is being funded by the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
The Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, which commenced construction on October 15, 2025, features a 896-metre ropeway with lower and upper terminals and 13 cabins built to European (CEN) standards. Once completed, it is expected to rank among India’s world-class passenger ropeway systems. The project aims to improve tourist mobility, create employment and livelihood opportunities for local residents, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing road-based transport.
Addressing environmental concerns, the government stated that all mandatory approvals and clearances were secured before construction began, including forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and compliance with the Forest Rights Act. The government also noted that environmental clearance was not required under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
The MRDA emphasized that a land lease agreement was signed with the Rait Laban Dorbar Pyllun in January 2023, and permission was obtained to fell 544 trees after due process. The government reiterated its commitment to balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation and will continue engaging stakeholders in a transparent and responsible manner throughout the project’s implementation.
