Shillong, Dec 21: The much-awaited entry and exit point at Umling, Ri Bhoi district was
finally inaugurated on Monday by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong even as he also pointed out that other facilitation centers are likely to come up soon.
Speaking to reporters here, Tynsong who is also the minister in charge of PWD (Roads), he assured visitors to the state that they will feel homely after they have undergone the due process of pre-registration or spot registration on how many days they want to stay
and their destination.
The Umling Facilitation Centre at #RiBhoi District was inaugurated today by Hon’ble Deputy CM, Sh. P. Tynsong, Hon’ble Minister Sh. H. Dohling, Hon’ble MLAs and officials. #Meghalaya reopens for #Tourism today & our tourists have already checked in at the Centre.@narendramodi pic.twitter.com/7LcOxWHBch
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) December 21, 2020
Assuring outsiders that they will not face inconveniences, he said, “Technology is in place and there is an e-device and people can do pre-registration and for those who are unable to do pre-registration, we will make sure that the system is fast and then they will not have
to wait for long the moment they land here”.
Known for its picturesque locations, he requested the people who intend to visit the state to not hesitate to visit the most beautiful state in India like Meghalaya and the people of Meghalaya are also welcoming.
He termed it as a ‘red letter’ day where the government has ultimately been able to inaugurate the entry point which is known as a facilitation center for those who enter the state of Meghalaya. “This is a humble beginning done by the government. We may have the shortcoming here and there but I would request everyone concern to please feel free if have any kind of suggestion, we are ready to accept it, we will modify it, and not only modification but we would like to improve this entry point or facilitation center to the extent where our friends coming in from different parts of the country and outside the country wherein the moment they land here, they will feel homely and safe”, he said.
He added that the intention of setting up the facilitation center is to ensure that people coming from outside the state are safe after they have registered themselves at the facilitation center. About other facilitation centers, Tynsong also informed that the next facilitation center is Bejengdoba and Ratacherra wherein land has been handed over to the government.
“Hopefully, by next year we are able to set up similar entry points or facilitation centers in these two places and the next one is Mendipathar railway station. In another two-three months we are able to inaugurate Mendipathar and the next one is in Umroi airport and it
is already in place because today ty is a red letter day for entry point and direct flight from Shillong to Delhi and Delhi to Shillong”, he said.
Demand finally met?
Tynsong said, “By doing this we will build confidence from both side be it from our own people of the state and also our people from outside the state”. It may be mentioned that the demand to set up the entry and exit point was a long awaited demand of pressure groups who have time and again pointed out that the immediate setting up of entry and exit point is necessary to check influx in the state. The government had earlier stated that it would get the facilitation center inaugurated to December 16 which was deferred to December 21.
The dilly-dallying of the government earned the ire of NGOs who
threatened to have it inaugurated themselves if the government does
not do on December 21.
The demand for entry and exit point was conceived when the then MUA-II government refused the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP). However, several pressure groups in the state said that they have not given up their demand for the implementation of ILP in the state.
