The government will replicate the success of Police Bazar in Civil Hospital and Laitumkhrah areas
SHILLONG, July 29: The entire stretch of Police Bazar, currently free of hawkers, will be designated as a pedestrian-only zone even as the state government has decided to issue car passes to the residents of the area.
The decision came close on the heels of the successful relocation of licenced hawkers to the designated vending zone at MUDA parking lot.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh expressed happiness that the High Court of Meghalaya was satisfied over the manner in which the hawkers were relocated. He said there is now sufficient space for pedestrian movement.
He discussed the future plans for the area with Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and the CEO of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).
“When hawkers elsewhere in the country are relocated, they are given nothing more than space. We have provided them with amenities like lighting. We have also sanctioned work for 15 washrooms in the basement of MUDA Complex as well as drinking water facility,” Lyngdoh said.
He said as car passes will be issued, the SMB has been asked to collect the details of the residents of Police Bazar area. He said the passes will be issued only to the residents and not to those who run their business there.
He said pedestrianisation will be carried out immediately from 7 am to 9 pm when there will be no vehicular movement, except in cases where passes will be issued to facilitate dropping schoolchildren. On holidays, there will be no movement of vehicles except those on emergency services or when there are unforeseen incidents.
A family in the area may have multiple vehicles but the government will issue only one pass per house.
Meanwhile, the government will hand over cheques of Rs 10,000 each to all the vendors who have been relocated.
According to Lyngdoh, the entire Police Bazar stretch will be refurbished. The work is likely to start within the next two weeks.
The government also has plans to enthral visitors with musical evenings. “Tourist buddies” will be deployed to act as guides and also to ensure hygiene in the area.
Asked about hawkers blocking the entire footpath in the Civil Hospital, Shillong area, Lyngdoh said the government will replicate the success of Police Bazar in the Civil Hospital and Laitumkhrah areas.