Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar today said that Shillongites will see a “new Police Bazar” within a year with the construction of a business-cum-tourism centre.
Dhar said the centre, which earlier houses the office of the Meghalaya Transport Corporation, is scheduled to complete in a year’s time.
“This is one of the prime projects in Shillong and people will see a new Police Bazar in one year,” Dhar stated.
The project is being implemented under Shillong Smart City at Rs 216 crore.
While the government has not decided on the outlets that will be opened inside the multi complex, Dhar said it will either house a mall or a convention centre.
As per the detailed project report, 40-50 vehicles can be parked in the upcoming building, but the Deputy Chief Minister said that he was optimistic that the number of vehicles will be much more than estimated.
He also said that the government will lease out the property to anyone who will be able to provide good revenue to the state government and assured a transparent process to allot the outlets or centres in it.
The expected date of completion of the project is March 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the minister also informed that the commercial market complex projects in Laitumkhrah and Polo are on the verge of completion and will be inaugurated between June-July.
He however said that other projects such as the parking lots would take some time.
On the relocation of hawkers from Police Bazar, Dhar said the government is making efforts to give the hawkers a good place and hence the process is taking time.
“We are looking at 3-4 places and we will simply not throw them but give them a good place,” he said.
He also maintained that the government is consulting with stakeholders on this important of the proper relocation of the registered hawkers.
Earlier, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh has claimed that the Town Vending Committees are almost done with the identification process of the hawkers and the only thing left is the allotment of stalls, which will be taken care of by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) within June.
The government is looking to relocate over 200 hawkers in Khyndai Lad (Police Bazar) to the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) complex and some other places.
The issue of relocation of hawkers has been pending for a long time as the number of hawkers in the city has increased. Hawkers have been conducting their business on important pavements and footpaths in different areas like the footpaths in Shillong Civil Hospital, Laitumkhrah, Dhankheti and the Fire Brigade junction.
