‘Polo market complex likely to complete by December’
Shillong, Mar 21: Traffic congestion in Shillong city will be significantly addressed by Meghalaya Urban Parking Policy 2025, which will be implemented shortly, said deputy chief minister in-charge Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, on Friday.
The policy proposes to regulate roadside parking in all urban areas of the state.
Stating random parking as one of the main factors of traffic congestion, he said, “Implementation of the parking policy will help reduce street parking as no one can simply park their vehicles on the road.”
“We will identify roads where street parking will be allowed,” he added.
The parking policy seeks to create a system where specific zones will be identified for parking of vehicles on payment basis and those where parking won’t be allowed, he said.
Further, the minister informed that the government has decided to shift the secretariat to New Shillong as part of its endeavour to decongest the state capital.
The government is making efforts to take several steps to ease traffic jams in the city, he added.
He also informed that the market complex at Polo in the city is likely to be completed by December this year.
Informing about his recent inspection at the site, he said, “Some work is pending and as soon as that is cleared we will inaugurate it. I think by December we should be able to complete this project.”
On the number of stalls, the deputy CM said the department will soon float expression of interest (EOI).
On the proposed relocation of hawkers from Khyndailad, Dhar said, “We are yet to finalise (the date). We will get things done as process has already started.”
Regarding the decision to drop the proposal for construction of “smart road”, the deputy CM said PWD is preparing an estimate to surface all dilapidated roads in the city.
