Shillong

The long-awaited expansion of Shillong Airport in Meghalaya continues to face delays despite key approvals and the awarding of a construction contract, as aviation safety clearances remain pending. The matter has now come under the scrutiny of the Meghalaya High Court, which has expressed concern over the delay in starting on-ground work. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh noted that construction was expected to begin nearly 45 days ago. However, the mandatory safety clearance required for deployment of machinery and construction equipment has not yet been granted, preventing the project from moving into the execution phase. The court observed that further delays could impact both the project timeline and overall cost, potentially inc...

Fresh unrest has surfaced at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), with employees of the Tura Campus launching a pen down–tool down agitation over a series of unresolved service and welfare issues. Members of the NEHU Tura Campus Staff Welfare Association assembled outside the Administrative Building on Tuesday, holding placards and banners demanding implementation of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) orders, a review of alleged arbitrary promotion and demotion decisions, immediate release of gratuity benefits, registration under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and timely payment of salaries to casual employees. The protest follows a memorandum submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on June 10, in which the association expressed disappointment over what it described as the ...

A candlelight vigil was held at Police Bazar (Khyndailad) on Tuesday evening as members of the Hajong community and civil society groups gathered to demand justice for two Hajong youth whose bodies were found under suspicious circumstances at Nongthymmai. Speaking on the sidelines of the vigil, Shillong Hajong Students Union President Joti Rani Hajong said she was present “not as president, but as a sister to those who have lost their lives”. She said people had come “from different communities and different organisations, having come from far away” to express solidarity. “We are expressing our condolences to the departed souls, so that we can show our respect to those who have lost their lives,” she said. Calling the deaths “mysterious” and an “unknown death”, she urged authorities...

The North East India Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition 2026 (NEIINFRA) concluded successfully in Shillong on June 16, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and development experts to discuss strategies for accelerating infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth across the Northeast. Hosted by the Government of Meghalaya and organised by the Federation of Industry and Commerce of the North Eastern Region (FINER) in collaboration with the Build India Foundation, the two-day summit focused on strengthening connectivity, promoting investment and unlocking the region's economic potential. The concluding session was attended by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who outlined a vision for transforming the Northeast into a majo...

The second day of the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition 2026 featured a series of high-level brainstorming sessions that brought together policymakers, industry leaders and experts to deliberate on key sectors including tourism, MSMEs, infrastructure, connectivity and renewable energy across the North Eastern Region. The session titled "Bringing Glory to Ashta Lakshmi: Nurturing Potential through Tourism” was chaired by Shri Pradyot Manikya Deb Barma, Chairman of the Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA Motha), Tripura, and co-chaired by Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Meghalaya. The discussion focused on unlocking the immense tourism potential of the North East by moving beyond deliberations to actionable interventions. Panellists highlig...

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem on Monday said the deaths of two Hajong youths whose bodies were found in a shed at Lumsohphoh appear to be suicide, but the final cause will be confirmed only after the post-mortem report is received. Syiem said police received information at 7 am on Sunday, June 14, “that two bodies inside a shed at Lumsohphoh besides the Shillong-Jowai road and that these bodies were found with rope tied to the necks.” “Immediately officers and staff from Laitumkhrah Police Station rushed to the place of occurrence and cordoned the area, forensic were called, senior police from the district also reached the place of occurrence and examined the place of occurrence,” he told reporters. He said no external injuries were found. “No injuries wer...

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday, June 15, announced infrastructure projects worth around Rs 50,000 crore for the Northeast, including major highway corridors aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and boosting economic growth. Speaking at the inauguration of the North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (NEIINFRA) 2026 in Shillong, Gadkari also announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore investment for infrastructure projects in Meghalaya. Among the key projects announced was the 165-km Silchar-Shillong Greenfield Highway, to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore. He also unveiled the 66-km Shillong-Guwahati Greenfield Corridor, involving an investment of Rs 8,500 crore, and the Guwahati-Shillong Brownfield-cum-Green...

Two youths from South West KhasiHills district were found dead inside a roadside betel nut shop at Lumsohphoh, Nongthymmai, on Sunday morning. The deceased have been identified as Semanto Hajong (22) of Ranikor and Pronome Hajong (21) of Balat. According to information received, the bodies were discovered inside a shop owned by Ratan Subba, located along the road leading to Nongthymmai. The shop owner's son reportedly spotted the bodies at around 6.30 am and immediately informed his father, who, in turn, alerted the village headman. Following the discovery, police rushed to the scene and initiated the necessary legal formalities. The bodies have been shifted to the NEIGRIHMS for post-mortem examination.Police said that while the exact circumstancessurrounding the deaths are...

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has announced an eight-hour shutdown of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme on June 15, from 10 am to 6 pm. According to the department, the shutdown has been necessitated to facilitate the replacement of pumping machinery at the Stage-I and Stage-Il pumping stations. During this period, the water supply will be suspended across Shillong city and its adjoining areas. The department has also assured that every effort will be made to restore and resume the supply at the earliest.