Meghalaya Group Opposes Jowai Railway Project Over Migration Concerns

The Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP) has strongly opposed the planned 180-km railway line from Chaparmukh Junction in Assam to Jowai in Meghalaya. The group fears that the project will bring too many outsiders into the region, potentially altering the area’s demographic and cultural landscape.

### Concerns Over Migration

The FKJGP has urged the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to withhold the no-objection certificate (NOC) required by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to proceed with the project. According to the FKJGP, the railway expansion should not move forward without a concrete mechanism to regulate migration, such as the long-demanded Inner Line Permit (ILP).

### Rising Controversy

The controversy gained momentum after reports emerged that NFR had begun surveying areas like Bhoksong, Rajagaon, Baithalangso, Jengkha, and Kherani-Umrangso for a potential railway link to Jowai. While the railway project aims to improve travel and trade between Assam and Meghalaya, local groups worry that it might attract too many outsiders, potentially changing the region’s culture and population dynamics.

### Calls for Safeguards

The FKJGP maintains that large-scale infrastructure projects should only be implemented alongside proper safeguards to prevent demographic imbalances. The group has requested the JHADC to halt the NOC, arguing that without appropriate regulations, the project could harm indigenous communities in the long run.

### Uncertain Future

As debates intensify, the future of the Chaparmukh-Jowai rail link remains uncertain. Concerns over development and demographic preservation are at the heart of the dispute, with both sides weighing the potential benefits and risks.