Shillong: Starting August 1, the Meghalaya government will roll out a paid on-street parking system across seven key localities in Shillong, aiming to ease traffic congestion and better regulate urban mobility.
An official source confirmed that the initiative is part of the newly notified Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025, and will be implemented in the jurisdictions of Sadar, Madanrting, Laban, Mawlai, Rynjah, Lumdiengjri, and Laitumkhrah traffic police branches.
To oversee the rollout, zonal task forces have been constituted in each location, headed by additional district magistrates.
These task forces, in coordination with the Public Works Department (PWD) and local Dorbar Shnongs, have already identified designated on-street parking spots.
In the run-up to the launch date, efforts are underway to finalise the operational framework, including the collection of fees and mechanisms for revenue sharing.
Under the new system, parking charges are expected to start at Rs. 20 per hour for two-wheelers and Rs. 40 per hour for four-wheelers in commercial areas.
In non-commercial zones, the rates will be slightly lower at Rs. 15 and Rs. 30 per hour for two- and four-wheelers respectively.
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Officials added that both zone classifications and rates will be subject to periodic review based on traffic flow assessments.
The government is also exploring digital payment solutions for parking in collaboration with the global development agency GiZ, to ensure a seamless user experience.
Strict action has been warned against any unauthorised fee collection or overcharging.
Violations will attract penalties as per existing legal provisions.