Roads of Shillong are not just for one category of road users: Paul

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 28, 2025

MDA government spokesperson and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh on Friday stated that notices have been sent under the Town Vending Committee to street vendors in Shillong. About 400 vendors have been identified after a rigorous procedure of identification and selection.

His statement came after the state government had on June 21 notified the upper floor of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) as a ‘vending zone’ and the remaining part of Khyndailad area as a ‘no vending zone’.

“We are aware that the problem of street vending has led to several daily discomfort and inconvenience to people using the streets of Shillong and the roads of Shillong are not just for one category of road users,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

Lyngdoh said that the deadline for vendors to vacate the streets has already expired, and now the law will take its own course.

He emphasized that alternative spaces have been provided to the vendors, and it is up to them to accept or reject the offer.

The minister highlighted that the roads of Shillong are not just for one category of road users. He stressed that pedestrians, who do not form associations or go to court, must also have their rights considered.

“Now whether they move or not is immaterial. They have been given alternative spaces whether they accept or not because nobody can dictate that this is my right because apart from motorists, apart from vendors you also have pedestrians, they don’t form associations, they don’t go to court, why should they be denied their rights?” he concluded.