Amlarem MLA and Cabinet Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has acknowledged that the ongoing construction of the Shillong–Tamabil highway has adversely affected tourist inflow and local livelihoods in the Dawki-Mawlynnong belt, but asserted that the temporary disruption is necessary for building the infrastructure required to sustain Meghalaya’s long-term tourism growth.
The strategically important road project, financed by the Government of India, is expected to strengthen connectivity to the international border and improve access to some of Meghalaya’s most popular tourist destinations. However, ongoing construction activity, traffic disruptions and landslide-prone conditions along the corridor have affected visitor movement and businesses dependent on tourism.
“Meghalaya is bless with natural beauty which we are having but having said that the Government of Meghalaya and Government of India recognize the importance of tourism but we cannot develop tourism without the road communication, telecommunication and other basic facilities,” Amlarem MLA Lahkmen Rymbui said.
The legislator said the State remained grateful to the Centre for financing the transformative road project, while acknowledging the difficulties being faced by residents and tourism stakeholders during the construction phase.
“So we are very thankful to the government of India having finance the Shillong-Tamabil road which the construction is going on and yes as of now the tourist inflow through the area is affected, the livelihood of the people is affected but something is that we need to be patience,” he said.
“Patience in the sense that now I have seen that the work is progressing very well, and I hope that in a very short time that the executing parties or the contractor will be able to complete the job,” the Minister said.
Rymbui noted that tourism-dependent destinations such as Dawki and Mawlynnong have borne the brunt of the disruption, even as authorities continue to push for the early completion of the project. He also pointed to the fragile terrain of the region, where recurring landslides continue to pose challenges for both commuters and executing agencies.
“But as of now, it affects the Dawki, Mawlynnong, and those areas it affects the livelihood of the people but as I said that due to the ongoing construction, so and as you know that the soil in that area is not stable and whenever there is very small rain also, landslides is always there, so precaution is needed because we cannot deny the fact that human life also have been lost during the ongoing construction,” he said.
Emphasising the need for strict safety measures, the Cabinet Minister said district authorities and executing agencies must remain vigilant while ensuring that the project is completed without unnecessary delays.
“So, it is duty of the sub-divisional magistrate to see that all precautionary measure should be taken, and it is the duty of the government also to see that the construction should complete as early as possible,” Rymbui said.
The remarks underscore the delicate balance between infrastructure expansion and economic disruption in one of Meghalaya’s most tourism-dependent regions. While the ongoing construction has affected visitor arrivals and local businesses in the short term, the government maintains that the completed Shillong–Tamabil corridor will significantly improve connectivity and unlock greater tourism potential across the State.
