Shillong, July 14: The Anjalee (also spelled Anjalee or Anjali) parking area in Shillong, a key facility for the city’s traffic management, has come under public scrutiny for its lack of essential infrastructure and amenities. Managed jointly by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the parking lot is typically leased to private operators through auctions. However, recent observations suggest that neither agency nor private operators have ensured basic standards of maintenance and safety.
Among the major concerns is the absence of proper cleanliness. Despite being a central location frequented by locals and tourists alike, the Anjalee parking lot continues to suffer from unhygienic conditions. Garbage accumulation, lack of dustbins, and poor waste management have been recurring issues. Though the Shillong Municipal Board has stated that cleanliness has improved in Anjalee and Iew Mawlong in recent months, on-ground observations and public feedback indicate that much remains to be done.
Security is another pressing concern. Most parking lots in Shillong, including Anjalee, are devoid of basic surveillance systems such as CCTV cameras. This has raised questions about vehicle safety, especially during night hours or peak tourist seasons. While the Shillong Municipal Board has acknowledged this gap, it claims that the lease agreements with private operators do not mandate the installation of CCTV, making implementation difficult without revising policy frameworks.
In a step toward infrastructural development, SMB recently installed a sewage management unit at the Anjalee site. While this move has been welcomed, urban planners and civil society groups argue that sewage management alone is insufficient in addressing the broader needs of the parking facility.
To bring transparency to parking charges, SMB has proposed the installation of signage boards displaying vehicle parking rates. Furthermore, there are considerations underway to adopt a differential pricing model based on vehicle size, a move that aims to rationalize space usage and maximize revenue.
Despite these efforts, many residents remain dissatisfied with the overall condition of Shillong’s parking infrastructure. “It’s not just about parking cars; it’s about feeling safe and clean in a public space,” said a concerned citizen. “If we’re paying for parking, we expect at least basic services in return.”
As Shillong continues to grow in terms of population and vehicle ownership, authorities face increasing pressure to upgrade and modernize public infrastructure. The issues at Anjalee are reflective of a broader systemic need for policy updates, better monitoring, and a more citizen-centric approach to urban management.
