Concern Over Meghalaya’s Rail Connectivity

• 28 Mar 2025

Source: IE  

After years of opposition from Khasi pressure groups, citing concerns that rail connectivity may lead to a significant influx of outsiders in Meghalaya, Indian Railways has decided to abandon the pending railway projects for Byrnihat and Shillong. 

• With this, Shillong will remain the only state capital in the country without railway connectivity. 
  • Meghalaya has only one railway station (operational since 2014), at Mendipathar in the North Garo Hills. 
• Demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP): Pressure groups are demanding the implementation of the ILP regime in the state to regulate the influx of outsiders, as the indigenous tribal population fears marginalization.  
  • The Garo population is approximately 10 lakh, while the Khasi population ranges between 13-14 lakh. 
  • ILP is an effort to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India. It is already in place in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur. 
• About & Origin of ILP: It is an obligatory official travel document issued by the concerned State Government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.  
  • Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, the British framed regulations restricting the entry and regulating the stay of outsiders in designated areas.  
    • This was to protect the Crown’s own commercial interests by preventing “British subjects” (Indians) from trading within these regions. 
  • In 1950, the Indian government replaced the term "British subjects" with "Citizens of India." 

Read More: Inner Line Permit, Northeast India