SHILLONG, April 24: The state government’s plan to convert the entire stretch of Police Bazar, one of the biggest commercial hubs of the city, into a pedestrian and no honking zone have been objected to by residents of the area who claim that hawkers would overrun the place once the entry of vehicles is restricted or prohibited.
Some residents, while speaking to The Shillong Times, said that the no entry rule was removed since the hawkers had occupied almost 70 per cent of the area. Ever since the vehicles were allowed to ply through the Police Bazar thoroughfare, the hawkers have been forced to push back.
Making it abundantly clear that they are not against hawkers, the residents asked the government to designate a permanent place to allow them to earn their livelihood peacefully and with dignity.
Comparing the scenario in Police Bazar to that of the iconic Mall Road in Shimla or the MG Marg in Gangtok, residents said those areas are not residential unlike Police Bazar which houses hundreds of residents.
The residents also observed that if the government really wants to convert Police Bazar into a no vehicle zone, then the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) should amend its building regulations which make it compulsory for any building to have sufficient parking space within its premises.
A resident, who chose to remain anonymous, said that if the government is really keen on beautifying Police Bazar, the first thing it should do is address the issues of hawkers.
He pointed out that the hawkers have now started expanding towards Jail Road and even the main approach road to the 5-star Courtyard by Marriott is occupied by hawkers.
It may be recalled that Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh had recently conducted an inspection of Police Bazar and had decided to turn the area into a pedestrian and no honking zone.
