Chapter 1 PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act shall be called the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022.
2. (2) It shall extend to whole of the State of Meghalaya.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context:-

1. (a) “Applicable Law” means all laws, brought into force and effect by the Government of India or the State Government including rules, regulations and notifications made thereunder and judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court of record, as may be in force in the State, from time to time;
2. (b) “Authority” means Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority;
3. (c) “Carrier” means any vehicle or receptacle hung or suspended from or hauled by a rope and used for the carriage of passengers or for any other purpose in connection with the operations of a ropeway;
4. (d) “Chief Ropeways Inspector” and “Project Inspector” mean the persons appointed under this Act respectively to be the Chief Inspector of Ropeways for the State and the Inspector of Ropeways for a Ropeways Project;
5. (e) “Development fund” means the receipt of the Authority under this Act;
6. (f) “Entity” means and includes a company, trust, society, firm or a body corporate or any other organization established in accordance with the applicable laws;
7. (g) “Expert Committee” means a Committee constituted under section 24 of this Act;
8. (h) “Government” or “State Government” means the Government of Meghalaya;
   • (i) “Licence” means a licence authorising the construction, operation and maintenance of a ropeway under this Act;
9. (j) “Licensing Authority” means an Empowered Committee having powers to grant licences under section 22 of this Act;
10. (k) “Local Authority” means traditional tribal bodies which includes Nokma, Sordar, Syiem, Sirdar (Sardar), Doloi, Wahehshnong, Wahadadar, Lyngdoh and Rangbah Shnong or any other such body constituted as per the traditions, customs and practices in the tribal areas and other authorities which may be notified by the Government in the Official Gazette;
11. (l) “Official Gazette” means the Official Gazette of the State of Meghalaya;
12. (m) “Operator” means an entity which has been authorised by the Promoter to operate and maintain the ropeway project under a written contract;
13. (n) “Person” means a natural person;
14. (o) “Post” means a post, trestle, standard, strut, stay or other contrivance or part of a contrivance for carrying, suspending or supporting a rope;
15. (p) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
16. (q) “Promoter” means:-
    • (i) the State Government;
    • (ii) any agency or department of the State Government;
    • (iii) any person or entity which may be selected by the State Government as per Applicable Law;
    • (iv) any body corporate, firm or any society registered under the provisions of any law for the time being in force;
    • (v) any person or entity which is owning and or operating an existing ropeway on the date of coming into force of this Act.
17. (r) “PPP” means and refers to Public Private Partnership; “Project Committee” means a District Level Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner where the ropeway project is being developed as provided in section 34 of the Act;
18. (t) “Rate” means and includes fare, charge or other payment for the carriage of passengers;
19. (u) “Rope” includes any cable, wire, rail or way, whether flexible or rigid, used for suspending, carrying or hauling a carrier;
    • (v) “Ropeway” means a ropeway used for public or private carriage of passengers and includes posts, ropes, carriers, stations, offices, warehouses, workshops, machinery and where the wheels of carriers are made to run on the rails laid on the surface of the earth, such rails as well as any such other works as are used for the purposes of, or in connection with, such ropeway and all land appurtenant thereto;
20. (w) “State” means the State of Meghalaya;
    • (x) “Sinking Fund” means the fund for repayment of money borrowed or floated or issuing debentures by the Authority under section 15 of the Act;
21. (y) “Undertaking” means all movable and immovable property of the Promoter suitable to and used by him for the purposes of a ropeway.