Meghalaya Govt to relocate vendors from Khyndailad by November: Paul Lyngdoh

Shillong, Oct 8: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday announced that the government is set to complete the relocation of street vendors from Khyndailad, popular known as Police Bazar, by mid-November, with other areas like Laitumkhrah soon to be notified.

“As far as the relocation of hawkers is concerned, our main emphasis is that the exercise should now be taken to its logical end,” Lyngdoh said, informing that specific areas in commercial zones are being earmarked for vending.

“The vending zones will now be notified, and in the first phase, Khyndailad, and in the second phase, Laitumkhrah, will form part of the exercise,” he added. The government aims to issue permits to vendors and initiate the pedestrianization of Khyndailad once the relocation is completed.

Regarding locations identified in Khyndailad, Lyngdoh said, “As of today, three locations have been identified, and we should be able to absorb all those vendors who fulfill the parameters set by the Department of Urban Affairs.”

When asked how many vendors would be relocated, he estimated, “It’s somewhere between 200 to 250.”

Addressing concerns about unregistered vendors, Lyngdoh clarified, “This exercise has already been ongoing for the past one year. There are parameters laid down clearly by the government, and those who fulfill those parameters are in the list of qualified vendors, and they only will be rehabilitated by the government.”

It may be mentioned that the government, through a joint initiative between the Urban Affairs and Tourism departments, is planning to transform Khyndailad into a dedicated ‘pedestrian zone’ and a ‘music hub’. This initiative aims to attract tourists and visitors to Shillong, often referred to as the “music capital of India”, enhancing the city’s cultural and tourism appeal.

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