Shillong, July 28: The Meghalaya Urban Affairs Department, in collaboration with the East Khasi Hills district administration, has facilitated the relocation of street vendors from Polo and Jail Road to designated vending zones under the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
Continuing the relocation exercise earlier carried out in Khyndailad and Civil Hospital, vendors from Polo have been shifted to designated vending zones at the Parking Lot opposite SBI and near Matri Mandir. Vendors who were operating along Jail Road, from OB Shopping Mall to the Petrol Pump at the MTC complex, have also been relocated to the vending zone at the Parking Lot opposite SBI and have begun operating from newly constructed stalls. The vending zone near Matri Mandir has a capacity of 132 stalls, of which 70 are currently occupied, while the Parking Lot opposite SBI can accommodate 79 stalls, with nine presently occupied. Another 22 vendors from Secretariat Hills and IGP Junction are scheduled to relocate to the Parking Lot opposite SBI on July 29, 2026.
The Department said the relocation exercise involved extensive consultations and coordination among several stakeholders. In the case of Polo, the Town Vending Committee held 29 formal meetings with vendor associations and other stakeholders before implementing the relocation. It added that vendors willingly shifted to the designated spaces without strict enforcement and that their cooperation helped ensure a smooth transition while taking into account their livelihoods and dignity.
To support vendors during the transition, the Meghalaya Government has announced the Chief Minister’s Urban Livelihood Grant. Vendors holding a valid Certificate of Vending will receive relocation assistance of ₹20,000, comprising an upfront payment of ₹10,000 and ₹2,000 per month for the next five months. A total of 65 Certificates of Vending have been issued for vendors at the Parking Lot opposite SBI, while 106 have been issued for the vending zone near Matri Mandir.
The Urban Affairs Department also announced that the relocation of street vendors in Laitumkhrah will begin on August 17, 2026. It expressed optimism that all eligible and registered vendors within the Shillong Municipal area will be accommodated in designated vending spaces by the end of September 2026.
After the relocation process is completed, notified no-vending zones will be strictly enforced in accordance with the law, with the Department saying the move is expected to reduce congestion, improve pedestrian movement and contribute to a more organised urban environment.
