Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has designated two parking facilities in Shillong for tourist vehicles registered in Assam to address growing concerns over indiscriminate parking in the city.

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar announced the decision on Wednesday following a meeting with officials of the Transport Department. He said complaints had increased over tourist vehicles parking along roads near the Secretariat, Ward’s Lake and Pinewood Hotel.

Under the new arrangement, smaller tourist vehicles will use the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) parking complex on Keating Road, while the Shillong Regional Transport Government Terminal (SRGT) will accommodate 10 to 20 large buses.

Dhar said the arrangement was finalised after the Meghalaya government received a request from Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, who heads the relevant committee on the Assam side, along with a written representation from Assam-based tourist vehicle operators.

“We received a request from Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, who chairs the Committee on their side, and also a written representation from Assam tourist vehicle operators. Today we finalised the arrangement,” Dhar said.

He said the designated parking facilities would help organise tourist vehicle movement and prevent buses and smaller vehicles from occupying roadside spaces.

According to the deputy chief minister, vehicles would be permitted to drop off passengers at the Secretariat or Khyndailad before proceeding to their designated parking locations.

He added that the vehicles already had designated parking facilities and said the new arrangement was intended to ensure a more orderly system in Shillong.

Parking facility sought at Guwahati airport

Dhar also addressed the demand from Khasi Hills tourist taxi operators for parking space at Guwahati airport. He said the state government had taken up the matter with the Adani Group, which manages the airport.

“The work is not yet completed. Once the parking area is ready, they will earmark space for us,” he said.

Clarifying the existing parking arrangements in Shillong, Dhar said the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) remained open to all vehicles.

He also maintained that there were no restrictions on tourist vehicles travelling to destinations across Meghalaya.

“They can go wherever they want – Sohra, Dawki. Who can stop them?” he said.