SHILLONG: In recent years, Shillong has opened up to tourism and has been blessed with an outpouring of people from around the country.
Streets are crowded with people throughout the day and major areas of the city have become congested.
Places like Police Bazar have many roadside markets that are a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike, with clothes and shoes being sold at reasonably cheap prices.
Even though these street shops are loved by the people and are usually flooded with customers, they also contribute to the lack of space in the heart of the city.
Walking through the market has become a difficult task as all kinds of shops have been set up on the roads.
It is not possible to do away with these shops as they are an asset as well as an attraction to people who visit Shillong hoping to get acquainted with the fashion of the city.
However, these shops need to be re-accommodated so that the roads are free from congestion.
The government should also come up with a solution for the problem. For example, a market in Sikkim known as Lal Bazar has been set up especially for such vendors.
Such an initiative would remedy the problem in Shillong city and the government can also benefit from taxes that could be imposed on the goods that are not under any regulation now.
It is pivotal that the government looks into the issue of overcrowding in the city and look into the prospect of a new market from which both the people and the government can reap benefits.
(Contributed by Simran Lyngdoh, St. Anthony’s College, Mass Media Dept, Shillong)
