Shillong, March 21: The Minister-in-Charge of the Urban Affairs Department, Sniawbhalang Dhar, on Friday, said no one will be allowed to park directly on the road which will reduce traffic congestion.
When asked about the identification of parking bays and the timeline for inaugurating new parking facilities, Dhar acknowledged the challenges posed by random parking and increasing traffic. However, he assured, “We are modifying the rules, and no one will be allowed to park directly on the road. This decision will strategically reduce traffic congestion.”
The issue of nighttime haphazard parking, which complicates emergency responses during fires and other incidents, was also discussed. Dhar explained, “That is why the Meghalaya Parking Policy 2025 specifically addresses parking regulations. Its main goal is to reduce roadside parking.”
He emphasized that the recently passed Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025, aims to tackle the city’s persistent traffic congestion and disorganized parking.
The policy, which came into effect on March 6, 2025, outlines the state’s vision and provides a framework for planning, approving, and implementing parking reforms to make urban areas, including Shillong, more organized and congestion-free.
Speaking about the policy, Dhar noted that it was designed to reduce roadside parking and enhance accessibility. He stated, “This is an ongoing process of improving these aspects. The Urban Affairs Department has recently passed a parking policy for urban areas, which should be highly beneficial.”
Dhar mentioned that while the government is actively working on parking solutions, implementation will take time. “Parking lots will be developed very soon… we are trying to expedite the process as much as possible,” he said. Additionally, he highlighted ongoing measures, such as police efforts to manage traffic flow and the planned relocation of the new city secretariat, as steps toward long-term improvement.
