SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government’s urban decongestion efforts advanced on Wednesday as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma conducted an inspection of the newly constructed Polo Vendors’ Market.
The visit marks a significant step in the administration’s ongoing strategy to regulate street vending, ease congestion along major commercial corridors, and relocate informal traders into organized, state-managed commercial hubs.
Chief Minister Sangma, accompanied by representatives from the Town Vending Committee (TVC) and Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) officials, reviewed progress on relocating vendors from the crowded Polo and Jail Road areas.
During the inspection, he interacted directly with relocated shopkeepers to assess their business viability and oversaw the distribution of financial assistance under the Chief Minister’s Urban Livelihood Grant (CM ULG).
The grant provides verified traders holding a Certificate of Vending (CoV) with ₹20,000 in support—an initial ₹10,000 lump sum and five monthly installments of ₹2,000 each.
To date, 65 Certificates of Vending have been issued for the vending zone opposite SBI and 106 for the market zone near Matri Mandir.
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Addressing policy goals, the Chief Minister emphasized that reclaiming public footpaths from informal stalls is vital for restoring pedestrian mobility and enhancing public safety. While acknowledging temporary disruptions during relocation, he called for unity and patience, confirming that the successful Polo relocation model will be systematically replicated in other high-density city areas.
The initiative is executed by the Urban Affairs Department, in coordination with the East Khasi Hills district administration, under the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.
Building on earlier efforts at Khyndailad and the Civil Hospital precinct, the framework designates busy roads as formal No-Vending Zones and redirects registered vendors into designated market hubs.
The purpose-built Polo Vendors’ Market spans a 620-square-meter footprint on a 2,270-square-meter site and accommodates 132 structured vending stalls—48 for Polo vendors and 84 for Jail Road vendors.
To date, 72 traders have officially taken possession of their units.
To support long-term viability and late-hour business, the facility includes comprehensive civic infrastructure: public toilets, individual stall LED lighting, eight halogen floodlights, and integrated waste management, sanitation, and electrical utilities.
The market caters to a diverse range of trades, including fresh produce, meat, apparel, pan shops, and fast-food stalls.
(4FrontMedia news)
