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Context:

Railways may postpone its pending railway line project in Meghalaya.

Background

Meghalaya has only one functional railway station at Mendipathar (functional in 2014) in North Garo Hills.

Indian Railways planned three projects, but they face significant challenges.

• Tetelia-Byrnihat Line: This 21.5-kilometre line connects Tetelia in Assam to Byrnihat in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district. Sanctioned in 2010, only the 19-kilometre section on the Assam side has been completed. Due to local opposition, Railways is considering terminating this line at the Assam border.
• Byrnihat-Shillong Line: Sanctioned in 2011, this 108.76-kilometre line aims to connect Byrnihat to Shillong with 10 stations. Despite receiving ₹209.37 crore in 2017 for land acquisition, the project remains stalled due to opposition from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU). Recently, the state government has been asked to return the unutilised amount.
• Chandranathpur-Jowai Line: Approved in 2023, to connect Chandranathpur in Assam to Jowai in East Khasi Hills. However, it is facing resistance from Jaintia pressure groups at the initial survey stage.

Why are local groups opposing these railway projects?

Local groups oppose these projects primarily due to fears of an unchecked influx of “outsiders” into the state.

Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has consistently opposed railway connectivity to the Khasi Hills since the 1980s. They argue that railways will facilitate the unrestricted entry of migrants, threatening the identity and land rights of indigenous communities.

Opposition groups argue that road travel can be monitored, but railways would allow large-scale, unfettered access. Without safeguards like the Inner Line Permit (ILP), they fear becoming minorities in their own state.

About Inner Line Permit (ILP)

It is an official travel document issued by certain states in India, such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.

The system is rooted in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873, that aims to regulate the movement of citizens into protected areas to safeguard the indigenous culture and demographic balance of these regions.

All Indian citizens living outside the protected states need to apply for an ILP to enter, however, foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) rather than an ILP.

Concerns

• Without railways connectivity, continuous dependence on road transport increases inflation and logistical costs.
• Shillong will remain the only state capital in India without railway connectivity or an active rail project.
• Railway connectivity could expand trade, tourism, and entrepreneurship in Meghalaya.

Delaying the projects may temporarily appease opposition groups, but it could postpone addressing the root issues of migration and identity protection.

Way Forward

Resolving the deadlock requires balancing the concerns of local communities with the developmental needs of the state.

The state government must address the suspicions of indigenous communities by introducing regulatory mechanisms like the ILP.

Promote awareness about the long-term economic advantages, such as reduced transportation costs and improved connectivity.

Finding common ground will require dialogue, compromise, and a shared vision for Meghalaya’s future.

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Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

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