By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 29: The Urban Affairs department has launched the Grant-in-Aid Scheme for Off-Street Parking under the Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025, in a bid to ease the growing problem of traffic congestion in Shillong.
With the city facing mounting pressure from unregulated on-street parking and a steady rise in private vehicle ownership, the scheme aims to expand organised parking infrastructure and improve overall mobility in urban spaces.
Under this initiative, financial assistance will be provided to private landowners, Dorbar Shnongs, NGOs, and cooperative societies for developing surface-level, stacked, and automated parking facilities. Support for surface-level and stacked parking has been fixed at Rs 1 lakh per Equivalent Car Space (ECS), with a minimum of 10 ECS required. Automated parking projects will be eligible for 75 percent of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) cost or up to ₹5 lakh per ECS, with a minimum of 20 ECS.
The scheme is demand-driven, and proposals will be screened by a designated committee before approval. Selected applicants will be responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining the facilities, which are to be used strictly for commercial parking and not for private purposes. Operators will retain the right to collect parking fees, but only at rates notified by the Competent Authority.
The state government has described the scheme as a step towards creating a more organised and commuter-friendly city, reaffirming its commitment to building congestion-free, accessible, and efficient urban spaces.
The first round of Expressions of Interest will remain open until September 30, 2025, with applications to be submitted through the official portal: www.invest.meghalaya.gov.in.
