Shillong: Street vendors previously operating in the busy Khyndailad area of Shillong have been successfully relocated to the first floor of the MUDA Parking Lot, following a coordinated effort by the Urban Affairs Department and the East Khasi Hills District Administration.
The move was carried out after extensive consultations with the Town Vending Committee and close cooperation from street vendor associations.
The relocation, aimed at easing congestion and ensuring compliance with the Meghalaya High Court’s orders, sought to regulate street vending and reduce illegal encroachments.
The court had directed the state government to clearly identify vending zones and take legal action against violators.
A total of 1,400 street vendors were surveyed under the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
In the first phase of the initiative, 407 vendors were found eligible for a Certificate of Vending (CoV), and 311 of them have already collected their certificates.
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To accommodate them, 365 vending stalls were constructed in the MUDA facility, of which 282 have already been allotted through a transparent lottery system.
Secretary of the Roadside Hawkers Association, Tellme Nongbri, welcomed the government’s efforts and expressed gratitude for the support extended to the vendor community.
Eligible vendors are also being provided a relocation package, which includes a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,000 for five months.
Authorities said this marks the first phase of a larger plan to streamline street vending in Shillong, with phased relocation to continue across other areas of the city.
