Relocation of Street Vendors from Polo & Jail Road

The Urban Affairs Department, in collaboration with the District Administration of East Khasi Hills, has successfully relocated street vendors from Polo and Jail Road to designated vending zones under the Meghalaya Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2023.

The designated vending zone near Matri Mandir, Polo, has a capacity of 132 stalls, of which 70 are currently occupied, while the vending zone at the Parking Lot opposite SBI has a capacity of 79 stalls, with 9 currently occupied. A further 22 vendors from Secretariat Hills and IGP Junction are scheduled to relocate to the SBI vending zone, with the relocation process continuing.

The initiative was achieved through extensive consultation and stakeholder participation, with the Town Vending Committee conducting 29 formal meetings with vendor associations and other stakeholders in the Polo area. Vendors operating along Jail Road, from OB Shopping Mall to the Petrol Pump at the MTC complex, have successfully shifted to the designated SBI vending zone and commenced business from the newly constructed stalls.

To support vendors during the transition, 65 Certificates of Vending (CoVs) have been issued for the SBI zone and 106 CoVs for the Matri Mandir zone. Eligible vendors will also receive ₹20,000 in relocation assistance under the Chief Minister's Urban Livelihood Grant. The voluntary participation of vendors reflects the success of a consultative approach that promotes organized urban spaces while safeguarding livelihoods and dignity.