MTDF recommends Guwahati-Shillong ‘luxury train’ link to give fillip to tourism sector

Shillong, Oct 17: The Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) has recommended establishment of a high-speed ‘luxury train’ from Borjhar airport to Shillong and no ban on Assam tourist taxis.

“Meghalaya must embrace the idea of a Vande Bharat train that connects Borjhar airport to Shillong and appeal to the Government of India to consider the establishment of a high speed luxury rail network that will reduce the travel time from Guwahati and Shillong to less than an hour,” the MTDF said in its recommendation to a committee on tourism.

The committee has been formed by the government and is headed by Director Tourism Cyril Diengdoh as its Chairman. The committee would look into various issues concerning the booming tourism sector of the state.

It was also formed after the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) demanded a ban on tourist taxis registered outside the state to tourist spots. The MTDF has opposed such a ban.

MTDF, in the meantime, said that there is anticipation that in the “next decade the Guwahati international airport will have connections to all major cities of Asia, making the city accessible to all major cities of the world.”

The forum added, having a train network would “further cement Meghalaya as not only a tourist destination nationally but also internationally.”

Recommending a long term policy for the promotion and growth of the local tourism industry, MTDF said that the need of the hour is a fully functional Shillong airport so travellers can travel from their respective cities directly to Meghalaya.

“The establishment of a full-fledged permanent airport for Boeings and Airbuses will accelerate not only the growth of tourism in Meghalaya but the overall economic development of Meghalaya,” the letter said.

Except the Mendipathar train link, Meghalaya still remains one of the few states in the country without a train link and therefore transportation of goods is done by the land route – which incidentally is one of the most expensive modes of transportation for bulk products.

Read: Naga body opposes rehabilitation of Laika-Dodhia villagers at Paharpur

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