Shillong, Dec 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday unveiled the foundation stone for the Shillong Ropeway project, Meghalaya’s first passenger ropeway, at Shillong Peak View Point in Upper Shillong.
The unveiling follows the laying of the foundation stone earlier this year by President Droupadi Murmu on January 16.
On the occasion, the formal Letter of Acceptance was also given to the contractor KEC International Ltd, a Haryana based Company, which will be working in partnership with French-based company POMA for the construction of the Project.
The Project is considered the largest construction project of the Tourism Department, with an estimated cost of Rs. 175 crores. Once completed, it will not only provide a lovely and panoramic view of Shillong Town but also of the Umiam Lake and beyond. It will also reduce the travel time and traffic congestion in the city, and also boost the tourism sector.
The CM also handed a cheque amounting to Rs. 1.5 crore to Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun as the 2nd remuneration for utilising their site for the construction of this project.
In his address, CM Sangma lauded the efforts of all stakeholders in making this project a reality. He informed that it has taken four years to reach this stage and was filled with challenges, from land acquisitions and permissions to the creation of the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority for ensuring safety standards and licensing.
CM Sangma appreciated the open-minded mentality and the visionary plans of the Raid Laban Dorbar Shnong Pyllun which consists of 7 areas namely Laban, Madan Laban, Upper Lumparing, Lower Lumparing, Lumkjatsngi, Oxford Hills and Rngi Shillong for extending their co-operation for the project to move forward. He said that this cooperation is an example of how this partnership can make a difference in people’s lives.
“It is of great importance that the community partners with the government, and it is projected that the Dorbar will be able to triple its revenue. We see that money will be directly pumped into the economy and the Dorbar and their residents will also be greatly benefitted especially those who deserve it the most,” he said.
As the Shillong Peak needs the intervention of the armed forces, due to its strategic position, he also extended his gratefulness to the armed forces, particularly the Air Force, for providing support to the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun through these past decades.
The CM gave assurances that the government is working on alternate routes that would connect to the tourist spot and also to decongest the landing site of the ropeway at Madan Laban. The government would build an alternate road which is approximately 4 Kilometres that connects to the main road at 101 Area, Upper Shillong.
CM Sangma said that the government is trying to ensure a vibrant ecosystem for the tourism sector to thrive and this would be applied to other sectors of governance. He said the ropeway is a potential mode of urban transport and could be a solution to decongest the city and observances would be made upon the commissioning of this current Ropeway Project.
He further informed that the government is focused on bringing in landmark developments that would be remembered in the next 50 years namely, the Shillong Ropeway Project, the creation and growth of the hospitality sector, the new secretariat and many others.
He also announced plans to construct a 40,000-seater football stadium in the State, which will be the largest in the country in the coming years.
He was accompanied by Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, Chairman of Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Sanbor Shullai, Chief Secretary D. P. Wahlang, Commissioner & Secretary in-charge of Tourism Dr. Vijay Kumar D, Director of Tourism Cyril V. D. Diengdoh, and members of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun.
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