Shillong, May 6: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said the government will take a final call on introducing railway connectivity in the state only after holding consultations with all stakeholders.
Tynsong told reporters that the Union Minister of Railways was right in stating that the Centre remains keen to connect Meghalaya with the national railway network.
“This isn’t being done for anyone’s personal interest—it’s for the benefit of the people of the state,” he said.
He informed that the Chief Minister has set up an all-party committee, and a meeting with stakeholders will be convened soon to enable an open discussion before any decision is made.
“I personally feel we need railways. But it doesn’t mean that just because I support it, it should go ahead without consensus. We must take everyone on board,” he said.
On whether the government is considering starting with goods trains, Tynsong said, “Let us meet first. Only after discussions will we understand the issues and decide whether the project should move forward.”
He also stressed the need for effective anti-influx measures if railways are introduced. Tynsong reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
“The government is fully in support of ILP. The Assembly has already passed a resolution, and we want it implemented. At the same time, we will discuss rail connectivity and related issues with all concerned,” he said.
Tynsong declined to comment on the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP)’s decision to boycott the upcoming all-party meeting on railways.
