Minister Incharge of Tourism Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday informed that around 200 vendors with the necessary documentation will be relocated by November 2024, after which the Khyndailad area will become a pedestrian-only zone with no space for hawking. He assured that the identified vendors would be moved to designated vending zones, and the rest will simply not be allowed to carry on their trade in that zone.
“Give us time until November, where we will be able to rehabilitate, and once that is done, the area will be declared as a pedestrian zone with no facilities and space for hawking,” Lyngdoh stated.
He explained that only vendors with verified documents and those meeting the qualifications set by the Town Vending Committee in collaboration with the Shillong Municipal Board will be relocated to specific areas, including three newly designated vending zones around Khyndailad. These zones, including spaces near MTC and MUDA buildings, have been selected to accommodate vendors without impacting public pathways and motorist rights.
“This is about addressing the needs of the majority while also respecting the rights of all users of public spaces, including transporters, drivers, pedestrians, and vendors,” Lyngdoh emphasized. “The problem has been that street vendors encroach upon not only footpaths but also the road. The goal now is equal respect for everyone’s right to use public spaces.”
Deputy CM in charge of Urban Affairs recently reviewed this plan in a meeting, and the designated spaces particularly at Khyndailad have been demarcated. Lyngdoh mentioned that these new locations include water and other essential facilities, marking a positive shift in Shillong’s urban development.
Regarding future plans, Lyngdoh noted that other areas, like Laitumkhrah, will also see structured vending spaces as new market complexes open. However, he stressed that “first priority is the heart of the city, Khyndailad.”
“Whether we do it or don’t do it, people are always critical about the government, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we first address the concern of the vast majority,” he added, assuring that the Urban Affairs Department has been working on this plan for over a year.