₹4,000 Crore Push: Meghalaya Bets Big On 240 Tourism Projects
The hill state of Meghalaya is getting ready for its biggest tourism push. The government plans to invest nearly ₹4,000 crore in 240 projects that change how visitors see the state and how local people earn from travel. The goal links roads, stays, attractions, and basic services under one clear plan for growth.
What the ₹4,000 crore plan includes
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the state already lined up around 240 tourism projects with a total spend close to ₹3,900 to 4,000 crore. These projects cover better roads, riverfronts, viewpoints, ropeways, stay options, and other visitor facilities across key locations. The money comes from state funds, a 90:10 share scheme with the Union Tourism Ministry, and some outside aid projects.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the government now plans strong tourism circuits instead of pushing only one spot again and again. Teams work to link five or more centres in each circuit so that visitors stay longer and move across more places. New locations that officers and local groups recently found will also enter the yearly tourism map of the state.
Focus on top destinations across the state
A large share of the money will go to well-known sites such as Umiam, Sohra, New Shillong, Dawki, and parts of the Garo Hills. Work includes new stay choices, better parking, cleaner public areas, and smoother access roads for buses and small cars. The plan aims to keep tourists at each place for more nights instead of quick photo stops and early exits.
At Dawki, for example, many visitors reach the clear river yet leave the same day because their stay choices remain weak. The new projects bring better rooms and support services so guests can stay back, enjoy the river more, and spend money in local shops. A ropeway and other links between circuits will cut travel time and add comfort for families and older visitors.
Tourism inside the growth vision
The chief minister called tourism a key part of the state's vision for a one billion dollar economy. The sector can give steady jobs to drivers, guides, homestay owners, artists, farmers, and many small service workers. Every new project aims to support income growth while also caring for forests, rivers, and village life through simple and sustainable practices.
Elephant Falls shows the community model
The chief minister shared these numbers at the silver jubilee event of the San Shnong Youth Welfare Organisation at Elephant Falls near Shillong. Youth from five nearby villages formed the group twenty-five years ago and turned a troubled zone into a well-run tourist site. They now manage tickets, crowd control, and upkeep, and also run welfare work for women and young people.
The government wants more such community groups to handle new assets. Under this model, the state builds paths, view decks, toilets, and parking, then hands daily running to local teams. These groups collect fees, keep places clean, and share earnings inside the village. The state gains partners on the ground, while visitors get safe, neat, and local experiences.
What this means for future travellers
Over the next two years, visitors can expect smoother entry at major sites, clearer signboards, and many more toilets in tourist zones. New circuits will guide travel from one centre to another so families can plan simple three- or four-day stays. With this ₹4,000 crore push, Meghalaya aims to turn Meghalaya tourism into a strong job creator while keeping its hills, rivers, and villages at the heart of every trip.
