Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inspected the new Polo Vendors Market in Shillong on August 12. He handed out financial aid to street sellers forced to move from crowded corridors. The state government cleared vendors from Polo and Jail Road to fix massive traffic jams. Pedestrians need room to walk. Officials expect these designated zones to clean up the city while keeping businesses alive.
The new site covers 2,270 square metres, though the market itself occupies 620 square metres. It houses 132 stalls in total. Records show 48 stalls went to Polo sellers while 84 went to those pushed out of Jail Road. Business owners are moving in. So far, 72 vendors have already grabbed their new spots. The market offers space for everything from fresh fish and chicken to garments and fast food.
Sangma met with shopkeepers and city officials to check on the transition. The market features LED lighting for every stall, toilets, and eight halogen lamps to keep things bright at night. The government confirmed the project runs under the Meghalaya Street Vendors Scheme of 2023. It aims to boost sanitation and waste management. During his visit, Sangma checked if the new setup was working for the merchants. The government stated, "The move is aimed at shifting street vending from identified high-traffic stretches to planned vending zones while ensuring that eligible vendors retain their livelihoods."
Vendors holding a Certificate of Vending can collect Rs 20,000 in aid. They get an upfront payment of Rs 10,000, then five monthly installments of Rs 2,000. Regulators have issued 65 certificates for the zone near SBI and another 106 for the zone by Matri Mandir. This follows similar relocation projects near Civil Hospital and Khyndailad. Future plans include tagging busy streets as no-vending zones to force order in the city.
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