The Meghalaya government has begun the relocation of over 400 street vendors from key areas of the city. The initiative, however, has triggered protests from hawkers who claim the process lacks fairness and adequate consultation. Officials from the Urban Affairs Department confirmed that three designated areas—inside and outside the MUDA parking lot, and the municipal parking lot opposite the SBI Main Branch—have been earmarked for the relocation. As part of the rehabilitation package, each eligible vendor is being offered a ₹20,000 relocation allowance to help ease the transition.
The process stems from a digital in-situ survey conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 across 23 locations in Shillong, identifying 1,400 vendors, out of which 760 were declared eligible. In the Khyndailad area alone, 457 vendors were surveyed, and 407 were found eligible following a series of hearings and claim verification between February and May 2025. The relocation is being carried out under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, and under the monitoring of the Meghalaya High Court, which is hearing two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to illegal vending and traffic chaos in the capital.
However, resistance has been growing. On Tuesday, a group of hawkers protested outside the main secretariat, defying prohibitory orders issued by the East Khasi Hills district administration. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem confirmed that a magistrate on duty filed an FIR, and four additional FIRs were lodged by hawkers, while five FIRs were registered by Shillong Municipal Board officials.