Govt appreciated for Shillong Parking Policy, Shared Mobility Initiative
Shillong, Mar 7: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered legal action against “new encroachments” on the streets of Shillong by illegal street vendors even as the government identified 25 locations for around 1,400 vendors across the city.
In an order issued on a PIL on Friday, the high court also asked the district authorities to submit action taken report on implementation of plans to make Shillong a modern, clean and well-administered city.
The bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh ordered implementation of the government plans and policies as submitted to the court “on a war footing”.
In the meantime, the court asked the authorities keep strict vigilance to identify, remove and prevent new encroachments of street space by illegal street vendors and take legal steps against them.
It also ordered strict imposition of fines on errant vehicle drivers for parking in no-parking areas.
“Ensure that there is no reduction of available road space by encroachment made by street vendors, by illegal parking and so on,” the court said.
The court will further hear the matter on 8 May 2025 and Urban Affairs department has been asked to submit a report showing further action taken in this regard.
Meanwhile, the department in its report submitted to the court informed about initiating a survey of street vendors in Shillong.
The Provisional Town Vending Committee held three meetings on 5 December 2024, 5 February 2025 and 14 February, 2025.
It has identified 25 locations for street vending across Shillong, to accommodate 1,400 vendors effective from 7 February, 2025.
An official notification to ensure smooth transition of substantial number of vendors to new vending areas was issued, the report stated.
A state-level committee was also constituted to coordinate regulation of traffic and street movement in seven traffic zones – Sardar, Lumdiengjri, Laitumkhrah, Madanriting, Rynjah, Mawlai and Laban.
The committee in collaboration with local bodies shall nominate and demarcate “parking” and “no parking zones” in the city.
Appreciating the administration, the court said, “A very healthy move has been taken by the administration to formulate a parking policy called Shillong Parking Policy, 2025.”
As per the policy, a fleet of 35 modern and comfortable buses would be launched to reduce use of private transport on the city roads.
The government has also initiated Shared Mobility Initiative (STEMS) to persuade parents of school going children to allow their wards to commute in these buses.
The report also stated that in April 2023 there was only one bus with 10 per cent occupancy, while there were 29 buses with 100 per cent occupancy by school students in February 2025.
“Undoubtedly, the successful implementation of this policy will reduce the usual traffic congestion during the time of start of school hours and closing of the school for the day,” the court said.
Noting another initiative to introduce street parking infrastructure, the court said, “We are confident that if this entire set of policies, plans and projects is implemented, it would go a long way to achieve the purposes of this PIL.”
