Shillong: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of measures, including the formation of the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Society to develop a unified online platform for booking bus, taxi and helicopter tickets and accessing other tourism-related services.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the platform would allow citizens and tourists to access multiple transport services through a single application. The government will support the technology partner for two years before deciding on a longer-term revenue model.
The platform will offer services similar to Uber and Rapido, but with lower technology charges to ensure transport operators retain a larger share of their earnings, Sangma said.
“We have decided that we’ll support this agency for two years and then we will see and we’ll figure out how the revenue models come up and then we’ll take a call after two years,” he said.
The government had discussed the proposal with taxi associations and other stakeholders, who raised concerns about the 20-25 per cent margins charged by existing technology platforms, Sangma said.
Registration on the new platform will be optional, with transport operators free to decide whether to join.
On Rapido continuing to operate in Shillong, Sangma said the government had stopped the service from its side but acknowledged the difficulty of completely preventing technology-based platforms from operating online.
“It’s anywhere in the world. So, yes, you’re right. They are performing, but it is not because last time we have written to them, they’re there to stop,” he said.
Sangma said the government was also looking into illegal operations by riders and drivers and urged them to register with the proposed platform, which he said would provide a safer and legal alternative.
Civil aviation wing, independent dam safety body
The Cabinet also approved the creation of a dedicated civil aviation wing within the Transport Department to strengthen the administrative framework for the aviation sector.
The move comes amid the planned expansion of Shillong Airport at Umroi, the expected arrival of larger aircraft, the proposed activation of Baljek Airport after the Airports Authority of India takes over, and the development of heliports across the state.
The new wing will also oversee activities related to helicopter tourism, Sangma said.
Another major decision was the creation of a separate dam safety organisation to independently monitor the safety of dams in Meghalaya.
The state has around 12-13 dams, with safety checks previously handled by officials associated with their operation, including officials of MeECL and the Public Health Engineering Department.
Sangma said the government had decided to create an independent structure following directions from the Union government under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, as the existing arrangement could lead to a conflict of interest.
The new organisation will have dedicated officers responsible for following prescribed standard operating procedures and ensuring that safety checks are conducted.
The Cabinet also approved the one-time regularisation of 11 lady supervisors in the Social Welfare Department in compliance with a Supreme Court order.
Sangma said the matter had gone through the High Court and its division bench before reaching the Supreme Court, which ultimately permitted the regularisation as a one-time measure and specifically stated that it should not be treated as a precedent.
The Cabinet further approved the extension of service of several retired officials engaged as consultants and advisers under externally aided projects and agencies.
Sangma clarified that these were not regular government posts and would not affect promotion opportunities for serving junior officers.
Excise, film policy and school funding changes
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Meghalaya Excise Rules, 2026, including the reclassification of IMFL brands and revision of ad valorem duty.
Sangma said the government had decided to combine VAT and excise duty under a single ad valorem tax administered by the Excise Department.
He said the revision was also aimed at reducing the price gap between Meghalaya and Assam, after Arunachal Pradesh increased excise duty on various products.
The government expects the revised rates to generate additional revenue of around Rs 150 crore, he said.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy, 2025, to clarify eligibility criteria for financial incentives to filmmakers.
Sangma said the policy, which provides incentives for film production in Meghalaya, had attracted several applicants and needed to be made more specific.
Under the amended criteria, films made in regional languages will have to be screened in at least 100 theatres or released on a national-level OTT platform to qualify for the Rs 1 crore incentive.
The government also amended the condition for films released on Hello Meghalaya. Instead of requiring exclusive release on the platform, films can now be released on national platforms as well, provided they are dubbed in Khasi and Garo and made available on Hello Meghalaya.
The Cabinet approved amendments to the rules governing secretarial assistance and domestic help for retired judges, allowing certain benefits to be provided as a lump sum instead of separate allowances.
Sangma said the change was aimed at simplifying the process and reducing paperwork.
The Cabinet also approved the CM Impact Plus scheme, a grant-in-aid programme for secondary and higher secondary schools in Meghalaya.
Sangma said the scheme would support around 1,900 secondary and higher secondary schools and provide a special push to the sector, as seven blocks in the state currently do not have a single secondary school.
The grants will be provided directly to eligible institutions rather than as sanctioned posts or salaries for teachers and lecturers.
The scheme will be reviewed annually and will be performance-based, with schools performing better expected to receive greater financial support.
The Cabinet’s final decision was to fix the age of cessation of engagement for regular casual workers, casual workers and muster roll workers at 60 years.
Sangma said the decision would bring uniformity to the retirement age, which was earlier 65 years for muster roll workers and 58 years for regular casual workers.
He said the age had been fixed at 60 considering that these workers do not receive pension benefits.
Cases involving workers in the transition phase will be examined separately by the respective departments, he said.
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