Correspondent
Shillong: As many as 282 hawkers and vendors have officially been allotted stalls at Khyndailad under the Meghalaya government’s much-awaited relocation initiative aimed at decongesting the state capital’s busiest commercial hub.
Cabinet Minister and MDA 2 spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh declared, “Today is indeed a historic day for us in the Government of Meghalaya. As you are aware, we have been very closely following up the matter relating to the relocation of hawkers and vendors at the Khyndailad stretch. Now a brand fresh look will be given to Khyndailad.”
Lyngdoh revealed that the initiative has taken the state government nearly two years to execute, beginning with a comprehensive survey that identified 1,400 street vendors. “In the first phase, we prioritised Khyndailad, since it is the most important, the busiest commercial area of the state capital,” he stated.
Out of the 407 vendors deemed eligible for the Certificate of Vending (CoV), 311 successfully collected their CoVs, and have now been relocated to the first floor of the MUDA parking complex in Khyndailad. The eligibility parameters included proof of continuous residence in the state for at least three years prior to the survey, and active engagement in vending activities in the same area for at least six months before the survey.
“To facilitate the relocation, 365 vending stalls were constructed, out of which 282 have been allotted through a transparent draw of lots confined strictly to certified vendors,” Lyngdoh affirmed. “This ensured that nobody could say anybody was favoured—everyone was given equal opportunity.”
He further acknowledged the cooperation of the legitimate Roadside Hawkers Association for supporting the relocation drive, calling it “a novel venture of the state government.”
To ease the transition, the state is providing a one-time relocation allowance of Rs 10,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for five months to each certified vendor. “For the five-month buffering period, regular reviews will be conducted. By the end of the five months, everything will be in place,” he said.
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