Shillong, Jan 21: As the State Government and senior officials prepare to celebrate the 54th Meghalaya Statehood Day at Baghmara, a positive development has emerged from Shillong, with street vendors around Barik Point and the Civil Hospital area voluntarily relocating their stalls to a designated space within the Public Works Department (PWD) office premises.
The move comes amid the government’s ongoing efforts to address street vending issues and ease congestion as part of its broader vision to make Shillong a more organised and pedestrian-friendly city. In recent weeks, hundreds of vendors were shifted from Police Bazar to the MUDA Parking Lot, while preparations were underway to relocate hawkers from the Civil Hospital area to a nearby location within the PWD office campus, just a few metres from their earlier vending spots.
Following the relocation, the stretch from Barik Point to Civil Hospital in Laban has visibly cleared, allowing smoother pedestrian movement and easing long-standing congestion in the busy area.
Hawkers operating near the Civil Hospital expressed satisfaction with the arrangement and thanked the state government, led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, for providing them with a covered and safer vending space. They said the new location offers protection from rain and strong winds while ensuring that pedestrians and patients visiting the hospital are no longer inconvenienced.
The vendors also noted that the relocation has reduced the risk of accidents and traffic congestion in the hospital zone. Some hawkers, however, acknowledged that they might face a temporary loss of income during the transition period but remained hopeful that business would stabilise once customers adjust to the new location. “It will take some time, but we believe sales will improve,” one vendor said.
According to officials, the Municipal Department and the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) have identified 31 vendors operating at the Civil Hospital site and provided them with temporary stalls. The government plans to construct proper pedestrian footpaths in the area, citing safety concerns and increasing congestion.
Earlier, Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar had stated that the government’s objective is to relocate hawkers to suitable locations where they can earn a sustainable and dignified livelihood, rather than being displaced to unsuitable areas.
It may be recalled that in February 2024, the Shillong Municipal Board conducted a survey identifying around 1,400 street vendors across various parts of the city.
While the relocation of hawkers from Police Bazar to the MUDA Parking Lot had drawn public appreciation, the Civil Hospital case has stood out as the vendors shifted voluntarily, without enforcement or legal action. This gesture has been widely viewed as a model of civic responsibility, contrasting with protests seen in some other parts of the city.
The cooperation shown by the Civil Hospital vendors is being hailed as a positive example of public awareness and concern for safety and urban order. Attention now turns to how the state government will address the concerns of other vendor groups occupying public spaces and whether adequate rehabilitation and relocation measures will be extended to them.
