Shillong, November 4: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated two multilevel car parking facilities at Mawkhar and Motphran in Shillong, developed at a combined cost of nearly Rs 39 crore, adding around 200 parking spaces as part of the State Government’s efforts to ease traffic congestion in the capital.
The newly inaugurated projects include the Office-cum-Multilevel Car Park at Mawkhar, which also accommodates the District School Education Office (DSEO), and the Multilevel Car Park at Motphran, aimed at reducing roadside parking in the congested Iewduh (Bara Bazar) area.
The inauguration was attended by Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar as the guest of honour, along with Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Affairs Dr. D. Vijay Kumar, Shillong Smart City Limited CEO Saloni Verma, Director of Urban Affairs Prafulla Kr. Boro, senior government officials, Rangbah Shnongs and members of Dorbar Shnongs.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma described traffic congestion as one of the biggest challenges facing Shillong, affecting both residents and tourists. “Traffic is most probably the number one issue in Shillong, and we hear this not just from our citizens, but even from our tourists,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister informed that the government had conducted a detailed mobility study of Shillong using drones and satellite imagery, which revealed that isolated interventions would not provide a permanent solution to the city’s traffic problems. He stressed that the creation of no-parking zones must be accompanied by adequate alternative parking facilities. “While we are creating no-parking zones, we are not creating parking resources. If you want to stop somebody from parking somewhere, you have to give that person the option to park somewhere else,” he said.
Sangma stated that the newly inaugurated facilities follow the multilevel car park developed at the Additional Secretariat, which Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had reportedly described as a model for hill areas across the country. He informed that several more parking projects are in the pipeline as part of the government’s broader mobility plan for Shillong.
Under the State Government’s parking policy, financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh per vehicle is provided to landowners and communities developing parking facilities, while ownership and management remain with them.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of proper operation and maintenance of the newly developed facilities, urging officials to ensure adequate manpower, training and standard operating procedures. “Building something is one part; running and maintaining it is a different part,” Sangma said. He further informed that the majority of government offices currently operating from the Secretariat are expected to shift to the new administrative city towards the end of 2027, a move anticipated to help reduce congestion in Shillong.
The Chief Minister also highlighted ongoing development works worth nearly Rs 30 crore at Iewduh, including the construction of a covered pedestrian stretch. He urged residents to cooperate with the government in maintaining cleanliness and improving public spaces as Meghalaya prepares to welcome athletes and visitors for the National Games in 2027.
According to the Urban Affairs Department, the Multilevel Car Park at Motphran has been developed at a cost exceeding Rs 16 crore. The fully mechanised facility consists of an eight-floor parking system capable of accommodating more than 110 vehicles and is intended to reduce roadside parking around Bara Bazar.
Meanwhile, the Office-cum-Multilevel Car Park at Mawkhar has been constructed at a cost exceeding Rs 22 crore. The facility provides parking space for more than 85 vehicles across five levels, along with three office floors accommodating the District School Education Office.
The Mawkhar parking facility has an average vehicle retrieval time of approximately three minutes and is equipped with a 15-kilowatt rooftop solar installation and an Integrated Building Management System. Both projects were developed by Shillong Smart City Limited under the Design, Build, Operate, Maintain and Transfer model.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar expressed gratitude to the Rangbah Shnongs, Seng Longkmie, Seng Samla and local residents for their cooperation during the construction of the projects. He also apologised for the inconvenience caused to residents and businesses during the construction period, particularly as work continued from early morning until midnight in one of Shillong’s busiest areas.
Dhar informed that another similar multilevel parking facility is currently under construction at Polo. He further stated that under the Urban Affairs Department’s parking development policy, individuals or communities possessing vacant land in congested areas could offer their land for the development of parking facilities by the government.
Urging residents to help maintain the newly inaugurated infrastructure, Dhar said, “This parking is one of its kind in our State. Just as you helped us during its construction, we require you to help us again in order to maintain it.”
The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that approximately Rs 60 crore had been allocated for the repair and beautification of roads and railings across Shillong. “We aspire to be one of the cleanest cities,” Dhar said.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Shillong Smart City Limited CEO Saloni Verma informed that the State Government had commissioned eight multilevel car parking facilities across Shillong, with a combined capacity of approximately 1,000 vehicles. She stated that the initiative was intended to optimise the use of limited land resources in the hill city while addressing increasing demand for organised parking spaces.
The inauguration of the two parking facilities forms part of the Meghalaya Government’s wider urban mobility initiative aimed at improving traffic management, expanding parking infrastructure and creating better public spaces for residents, traders and visitors in Shillong.
