Shillong: The hawkers and street vendors operating in Khyndai Lad staged a protest outside the Shillong Municipal Board office on Friday against the Meghalaya Government’s proposal to relocate them.
Organized under the banner of the Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA), the protest was called against the state government’s decision to relocate them to the MUDA Shopping Complex by November 24.
Over 5,000 hawkers and street vendors have been registered under the Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association.
The hawkers’ protest forced SMB Executive Engineer FB Chyne to initiate talks with the protesters to discuss their grievances.
MGSPHSVA president Biolin Pyrtuh sought clarification on Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh’s November 24 relocation deadline.
Pyrtuh reassured hawkers that they could continue their business without fear of relocation.
Earlier, the Meghalaya government had announced plans to relocate over 200 street vendors from Khyndai Lad, popularly known as Police Bazar, to designated vending zones by November.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said that the process would begin with Khyndai Lad and subsequently extend to Laitumkhrah.
Lyngdoh said the area will become a hawker-free pedestrian zone under the government’s plans. The tourism minister said that three specific locations near Khyndai Lad have been identified for the relocation of vendors.
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In addition to the relocation, the Urban Affairs and Tourism departments are also considering transforming Khyndai Lad into a dedicated ‘pedestrian zone’ and ‘music hub’ to boost tourism and attract visitors to the city.
This initiative aligns with the broader efforts to revitalize Shillong’s urban landscape.
