Shillong, Oct 15: In a significant measure to deal with parking problem in Shillong, the state government has designated two parking lots – MUDA parking at Keating Road and SRGT – for Assam-registered tourist vehicles.
The decision had to be taken as complaints had been mounting over random parking near the Secretariat, Wards Lake and Pinewood Hotel, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said after a meeting with Transport department officials on Wednesday.
As per the plan, smaller vehicles will park at the MUDA complex, while 10-20 big buses will be allowed at SRGT.
Informing about another perspective of the decision accommodating a request from the Assam government, he said, “We received a request from Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, who chairs the Committee on their side, and also a written representation from Assam tourist vehicle operators. Today we finalised the arrangement.”
Promising that the new arrangement will improve the parking scene, he said, “It does not look good when they park along the road. This will be more systematic and neat. They can drop passengers at Secretariat or Khyndailad and then go and park at the designated place.”
He mentioned that the vehicles already have their own parking lots.
On Khasi Hills tourist taxis seeking parking space at Guwahati Airport, Dhar said the state has taken up the matter with the Adani Group which manages the airport.
“The work is not yet completed. Once the parking area is ready, they will earmark space for us,” he said.
Dhar also said parking at ISBT remains open for all, and maintained that there are no restrictions on tourist vehicles visiting tourist spots.
“They can go wherever they want – Sohra, Dawki. Who can stop them?” he said.
