Shillong, July 29: The state government is all set to pedestrianize Khyndailad – one of the major commercial hubs located in the heart of Shillong –  following the successful relocation of street vendors and hawkers to the designated vending zone at the MUDA parking lot.

Announcing this after a meeting held with the deputy chief minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the government has decided to go ahead with pedestrianization of Khyndailad area.”

“More importantly we have also decided that the pedestrianization will be carried out immediately and the timing will be 7am to 9pm where there will be no movement of vehicles (from the stretch that leads to the entrance of Khyndailad upto Umsohsun) at all except where passes will be issued and these passes will be mainly to facilitate of dropping of school kids during school days. However on holidays, there will be absolutely no movement of vehicles in the pedestrianized area except on emergency basis and unforeseen incidents like fire and medical emergencies,” he told reporters.

The Shillong Municipal Board will soon issue passes to residents of the area, allowing them to access their homes during the pedestrianization hours.

“In this regard, we have task the SMB with the responsibility of collecting details of residents of that particular stretch so that we will be in a position to issue them passes for their cars. That will be only for residents of that area. It will not be for residents, who are from outside Khyndailad but having business enterprise in that area,” Lyngdoh stated.

The minister also mentioned that they were extremely happy that the Meghalaya High Court has expressed its total satisfaction over the manner in which the state government has gone ahead in relocating the vendors in a manner that is done very professionally and making sure that there is sufficient space for all road users and especially pedestrians in and around the city’s busiest commercial area.

“This should come to your attention that else where in the country wherever hawkers have been relocated, they have only been given a space. However, in the case of the relocation here in Shillong which was carried out very recently, we have also provided them with amenities like proper lighting, “he added.

Further highlighting the other plans of action, Lyngdoh said that the government has already sanctioned works which will start immediately for 15 washrooms at the basement of the MUDA complex besides providing drinking water facility.

He also announced that the Deputy Chief Minister and himself will personally hand over cheques of Rs 10,000 each to the vendors on August 5.

Asked, Lyngdoh said that the government plans to refurbish the entire stretch, including welcoming signage, improvement of tiles, and a facelift for Khyndailad.

The area will be promoted as a hub for music events, reflecting Shillong’s brand as India’s Music Capital.

He further informed that the government will ensure the presence of tourist buddies to act as guides, prevent incidents, and maintain sanitation and hygiene.

To a query, Lyngdoh said that the success of the relocation of hawkers in Khyndailad will be replicated in other congested areas of Shillong, including Laitumkhrah and Civil Hospital point.

“We have to first venture with Khyndailad being the busiest commercial centre of the state. So now that we have been successful in Khyndailad, we will replicate the success stories elsewhere including areas like Laitumkhrah, Civil Hospital point and other heavily congested civilian areas,” he assured.

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