Meghalaya: Shillong Bans Free Parking from August 1, Check Rates, Penalties and Affected Areas

The move is part of a citywide campaign to reclaim clogged streets, streamline vehicle movement, and enforce long-ignored traffic norms.

Starting August 1, anyone parking on Shillong’s roads will now need to pay designated fees or face penalties, as the East Khasi Hills district administration rolled out a bold new crackdown on Shillong’s traffic tangle under the Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025.

In a bold push to untangle the city’s traffic snarls, the administration has banned free and random roadside parking to reclaim the city’s roads and restore urban order.

The move is part of a citywide campaign to reclaim clogged streets, streamline vehicle movement, and enforce long-ignored traffic norms.

Under the new policy, only vehicles parked in clearly demarcated, paid parking zones will be permitted. All other areas especially those not officially marked will be treated as strict No-Parking Zones, with violations attracting fines and possible towing.

What You Will Pay?

The administration has fixed hourly parking rates as follows:
1.Two-Wheelers – Rs 20/hour
2.Four-Wheelers – Rs 40/hour
(Rates may vary slightly depending on zones)
These rates will apply to all approved parking zones within Shillong limits.

What Are the Key Zones?

The initial phase of enforcement will focus on 7 major urban pockets:
1.Sadar
2.Madanrting
3.Laban
4.Mawlai
5.Rynjah
6.Lumdiengjri
7.Laitumkhrah
Each of these zones has seen severe traffic congestion, often worsened by haphazard roadside parking.

What Are the New Legal Parking Sites?

A number of streets and areas have been cleared, demarcated, and structured to host legal parking slots. Some of the largest sites include Boucher Road, now hosting 220 four-wheelers, and the CM’s Bungalow area in New Polo, cleared for structured taxi and private car zones. Tourist taxis now have designated slots near Balika Hindi Vidyalaya in Keating Road and around Gaffar Café in Golf Link.

School zones, church vicinities, and community halls have also been brought under the net. Even stretches around St. Anthony’s College, Don Bosco, SEMC College, and Seng Khasi College are part of the sweeping reorganisation.

What Are the Strict No-Parking Zones?

Areas not included in the official blueprint especially stretches under the jurisdiction of the Mawlai Town Dorbar have been declared strict no-parking zones. Officials have warned that penalties will be enforced, with clear signage already being installed to eliminate any ambiguity.

Motorists found parking in these zones will be fined, and in repeated or serious cases, their vehicles may be towed without warning.

Meanwhile, in a stunning show of coordination, Zonal Task Forces led by Additional District Magistrates have worked in tandem with local Dorbar Shnongs and the Public Works Department to identify, mark, and approve parking slots across the city. From Smart Road to Oxford Hill, Red Cross to Boucher Road, over a dozen major arteries have been restructured to accommodate hundreds of vehicles but only where it’s legal.

While some residents and business owners have raised concerns over reduced parking flexibility, many have welcomed the move as long overdue.

Also Read: Meghalaya MLA Adelbert Nongrum and Family Escape Unhurt in Multi-Vehicle Crash Near Umiam

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