The state cabinet today approved the Meghalaya Urban Parking Policy 2025 to regulate street parking and improve overall traffic management.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the policy is part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Shillong, which was formulated last year.
Under the policy, existing municipal and Urban Affairs Department-managed parking lots will continue to operate without any changes. However, the policy introduces a mechanism to regulate and charge fees for vehicles parked on public roads, as there is currently no system in place for this.
To ensure effective implementation, the city will be divided into different zones with designated parking and no-parking areas. Local communities, including headmen and dorbars, will be actively involved in monitoring and enforcing the policy.
The policy also facilitates public-private partnerships, encouraging local organisations and development committees to convert unused land into parking lots. The government will provide financial assistance to support these initiatives.
Sangma expressed confidence that the policy would prevent haphazard parking and reduce traffic congestion. He also insisted that increased revenue is a secondary consideration, though he admitted that it has the potential to reach around Rs 40 crore annually for the government.
