SHILLONG —The Meghalaya Cabinet has opened several new tracks in transport, aviation, dam safety and revenue, including a revised excise structure expected to bring in around ₹150 crore in additional collections.
A new Meghalaya Integrated Transport Society (MeITS) will bring bus, taxi and helicopter services onto a common platform. The government plans an online system through which residents and tourists can book these services, with other tourism-related ticketing to be added later.
The Cabinet has also approved a dedicated Civil Aviation Wing/Cell within the Transport Department. The move comes as Umroi Airport prepares for runway expansion, Baljek Airport moves towards activation and the government develops helipads and helicopter tourism.
Meghalaya is also creating a State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) with dedicated officers to independently inspect and assess dams. The state has around 12–13 dams, with safety responsibilities previously handled by agencies operating them.
The Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 has also been tightened. The ₹1 crore incentive for films made in regional languages will now require a release in at least 100 theatres or on a national-level OTT platform. Films shown on Hello Meghalaya will have to be dubbed in Khasi and Garo, while the revised rules will allow films to appear on national platforms.
The Cabinet has also decided to combine Excise Duty and VAT into a single Ad Valorem levy, bringing the combined collection under the Excise Department.
Excise rates are being revised after Assam and Arunachal Pradesh increased their own duties, widening the price gap with Meghalaya. The revised structure is expected to generate around ₹150 crore more revenue, depending on actual collections.
