Shillong to Soon Become The Only Indian State Capital With No Railway Connectivity. Here’s Why

New Delhi: Indian Railways is likely to shelve a rail project connecting to Shillong's Byrnihat amid strong opposition from the Khasi pressure group. If shelved, this decision would make Shillong, the only Indian state capital with no rail links, as per media reports.

This setback coincides with renewed protests in the Jaintia Hills, where locals are opposing a newly approved railway line to Jowai, the district’s largest town.

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Currently, Meghalaya ’s sole railway station operates at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills, operational since 2014. Meanwhile, daily passenger trains connect it to Guwahati, and just last month, the station handled its first freight delivery.

Other than this, there are three rail connectivity in the state. The first, a 21.5-kilometre Tetelia-Byrnihat line, approved in 2010, aimed to link Assam ’s Tetelia station to Byrnihat in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district. The second was greenlit in 2011, a 108.76-kilometre stretch from Byrnihat to Shillong, complete with 10 stations. The third, sanctioned in 2023, proposed connecting Chandranathpur in Assam to Jowai in East Khasi Hills, though it remains in the preliminary survey phase and is already meeting resistance from Jaintia groups.

Why the Opposition?

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has been a vocal opponent of railway expansion into the Khasi Hills since the 1980s, consistently blocking efforts to extend tracks to Byrnihat. Their core argument- railways would trigger an overwhelming influx of “outsiders,” threatening the state’s indigenous identity.

One of the key demands fueling this stance is the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, a mechanism already active in neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh , Nagaland , Mizoram , and recently Manipur . The ILP restricts entry and stays for non-residents, requiring official permission for limited periods. A senior official told a leading newspaper that without any law it would be difficult to tackle the unabated flow of migrants and also poses a huge risk to the Indigenous communities. he added that the union won't oppose the measure if the railway introduces safeguards like the ILP.

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The Divided Stand:

While KSU opposes the railways, not everyone in the state shares the concerns. Political commentator and ex-bureaucrat Toki Blah argues that the opposition is a strategic move by pressure groups to secure the ILP.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sangma has stressed that railway progress hinges on agreement among all stakeholders. Speaking in the assembly, he championed the economic upside: "It would simplify moving goods in and out of Meghalaya, securing better prices for everyone. Lower logistical costs would benefit ordinary citizens, businesses, and local entrepreneurs pushing their products."

As opposition spreads from Khasi to Jaintia Hills, the fate of Meghalaya’s rail ambitions hangs in the balance, pitting economic promise against deep-seated cultural fears.