Shillong, August 30 : In a significant step towards easing urban congestion, the Government of Meghalaya’s Urban Affairs Departmenttoday announced the launch of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme for Off-Street Parking. The initiative is a key component of the Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025, designed to address the challenges posed by unregulated on-street parking and the rapid rise in private vehicle ownership in Shillong.
The scheme focuses on developing off-street parking infrastructure to decongest busy city roads. It will provide financial assistance to private landowners, Dorbar Shnongs, NGOs, and cooperative societies willing to construct and operate parking facilities. The policy encourages surface-level, stacked, and automated parking systems to optimise urban space and improve traffic management.
The scheme offers substantial capital grants, including:
- ₹1 lakh per Equivalent Car Space (ECS) for surface-level and stacked parking (minimum 10 ECS).
- 75% of DPR cost or up to ₹5 lakh per ECS for automated parking projects (minimum 20 ECS).
Applicants whose proposals are approved by the Screening Committee will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facilities. These spaces will be reserved strictly for commercial parking, with operators permitted to collect parking fees as per government-approved rates.
Speaking on the initiative, officials highlighted that the scheme reflects the government’s determination to build congestion-free, accessible, and efficient cities.
The Urban Affairs Department emphasized that systematic parking solutions are critical to improving mobility and reducing traffic woes in Shillong and other urban areas.
The first round of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the scheme will be accepted until September 30, 2025. Interested stakeholders, including communities and private organisations, have been encouraged to participate by applying through the official portal: www.invest.meghalaya.gov.in.
