SHILLONG: Despite the government’s efforts to establish new parking facilities, persistent roadside parking continues to hinder the flow of traffic on Shillong’s narrow streets. To address this, the Meghalaya government has mandated daily monitoring to strictly regulate parking habits across the city.
Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, stated on Monday that the administration is actively overseeing the situation on a day-to-day basis. He acknowledged that while the district administration and police are working to streamline traffic, the city’s limited road width makes unauthorized roadside parking a major obstacle.
The monitoring initiative is specifically designed to reduce congestion during high-traffic periods, such as school and office hours. The government aims to ensure that major thoroughfares remain clear for commuters, preventing the gridlock that frequently affects the state capital.
“We are tracking the situation daily to ensure roads are not blocked by haphazardly parked vehicles. While it is a challenge given our road constraints, we are committed to finding a balance through enforcement and infrastructure,” Dhar said.
In a move to encourage the use of designated spaces, the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has revised the parking fees for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) at the Multilevel Car Park near the Additional Secretariat.
Effective from March 13, the new fee structure is being paired with a plan to introduce Electronic Ticketing. This transition to a digital system is intended to make revenue collection more efficient and transparent while providing a more organized experience for motorists.
This enforcement drive is part of a larger roadmap that includes the recent inauguration of the state’s first automated multilevel parking facility on Vivekananda Road. The government currently has nine more multilevel parking lots in the pipeline, which are expected to create organized space for approximately 1,300 additional vehicles.
By combining daily monitoring with increased parking capacity, the administration hopes to discourage random roadside parking and significantly ease the traffic burden on Shillong’s residents.
