Shillong: In a major step toward regulating street vending and decluttering urban spaces, the Meghalaya government has begun relocating eligible street vendors in Shillong, identifying three designated vending zones and offering each vendor a relocation allowance of ₹20,000. The initiative, backed by the Meghalaya High Court, aims to ensure that street vending remains both lawful and sustainable within the city’s evolving urban landscape.
Officials from the Urban Affairs department confirmed that over 400 street vendors found eligible during recent hearings will be moved to newly earmarked areas, including inside and outside the MUDA parking complex and the municipal parking lot opposite the SBI Main Branch. These locations are situated within prime areas of the city to ensure that vendors maintain access to foot traffic and income opportunities.
The decision follows a digital in-situ survey conducted across 23 sites between December 2023 and January 2024, which identified 1,400 street vendors across Shillong. After a detailed verification process involving claims and objections held from February to May 2025, 760 vendors were declared eligible. In Khyndailad, one of the city’s busiest commercial zones, 407 vendors were found eligible from among the 457 initially surveyed.
Despite the government’s assurances and financial assistance, the relocation drive has sparked opposition. On Tuesday, a group of hawkers staged a protest near the main secretariat, violating district orders that prohibit demonstrations in the vicinity. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that a magistrate on duty filed an FIR against the demonstrators. Police have registered four FIRs from hawkers and five from Shillong Municipal Board officials in connection with the ongoing tension.
Authorities have clarified that the drive is being conducted in strict compliance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and under the supervision of the Meghalaya High Court. The court is currently monitoring two public interest litigations (PILs) linked to the regulation of street vending and traffic management in the capital.
The Urban Affairs department emphasized that the effort is not a one-time clearance but part of a phased and lawful approach to reorganize informal vending in Shillong. The relocation drive is expected to expand to other parts of the city, aiming to strike a balance between urban order and the livelihood rights of street vendors.