Shillong, May 28 -- The Meghalaya government missed the February 2025 deadline to submit the nomination dossier for the Living Root Bridges, locally known as Jingkieng Jri, to secure UNESCO World Heritage status.

The iconic bio-engineered bridges are renowned for their unique cultural and ecological significance.

Junhi Han, Chief of the Culture Unit at UNESCO's New Delhi South Asia Regional Office, who attended a one-day workshop in Meghalaya on preparing the nomination dossier, explained that the process is rigorous and typically takes about 18 months.

She noted that since the 2025 deadline has passed, the government will now have to aim for submission by February 2026. If the dossier meets UNESCO's criteria, it will proceed to evalua...