# Shillong ropeway project controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/shillong-ropeway-project-controversy
> Updated: 2026-10-26T04:04:55.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3.

The proposed ₹151-crore ropeway project at Shillong Peak, managed by the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority, faces intensifying opposition from local residents and environmental critics.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Shillong Ropeway, representing Laban Pyllun residents, issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Meghalaya government to scrap or relocate the project. The JAC has threatened intensified agitation, including hunger strikes, citing concerns over environmental damage, tree felling, and the potential drying up of local water springs. They further allege that the community was not properly consulted and that no public hearing was held. While Tourism Department Director Brenda Lee Pakyntein maintains that necessary permissions, including an NOC from the Dorbar Shnong, were obtained, the JAC maintains they were not properly informed.

Adding to the opposition, the citizens' group Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has formally requested the government to scrap the project, alleging that the consultation process used to secure community consent was “fraudulent and lacked transparency.” TUR argues that bypassing grassroots democratic participation violates community trust. 

Broader scrutiny focuses on the project’s environmental footprint, including the estimated requirement of 26,000 square metres of forest clearance. A 2022 public consultation reportedly saw only 27 attendees, with 80 percent expressing concerns regarding negative impacts on local river quality. The project, which aims to improve tourist access and create over 450 jobs by 2028 through funding from the New Development Bank and the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region, also faces technical debate regarding the use of cost-effective mono-cable technology over more redundant bi-cable systems.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: Citizens' group demands cancellation of Shillong Peak Ropeway project

The citizens' group Thma U Rangli-Juki has urged the Meghalaya government to scrap the ₹151-crore Shillong Peak Ropeway project, citing environmental risks and a flawed consultation process.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/citizens-group-demands-cancellation-of-shillong-peak-ropeway-project

### 2026-10-23: Shillong Peak ropeway project faces scrutiny over environmental and consultation concerns

Meghalaya's ₹151-crore Shillong Peak ropeway project aims for a 2028 completion, despite criticism over low public consultation and potential environmental impacts on forests and water sources.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shillong-peak-ropeway-project-faces-scrutiny-over-environmental-and-consultation-concerns

### 2026-10-17: Shillong residents issue ultimatum over proposed ropeway project

Residents in Shillong have given the Meghalaya government a 10-day ultimatum to scrap or relocate a proposed ropeway project, citing environmental risks and a lack of community consultation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shillong-residents-issue-ultimatum-over-proposed-ropeway-project

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Cite as: Shillong ropeway project controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/shillong-ropeway-project-controversy