Shillong bus operators refuse to leave Mawlonghat stand by Nov 12

Bus operators who run market buses into Shillong say they will not move out of the Mawlonghat bus stand, despite a government order to shift by November 12.

The Khasi Hills Bazar Bus Association (KHBBA) has been told to move its operations to a parking area opposite Anjalee Cinema Hall from that date, The Shillong Times reported. The move is meant to make space for street vendors.

Operators say they will stay

KHBBA secretary Kyrshan Rynjah told reporters on Sunday, November 8, that members had decided not to leave the site, either before or after the deadline.

"If the government approaches the matter with understanding, we are ready to cooperate. But if it uses force, the public too will have its own response," he said.

Rynjah said the government issued the order without properly consulting bus operators or hearing their concerns.

Why Mawlonghat matters

The association says the bus stand has served the public for more than 50 years. Buses from the stand link several areas with Iewduh, also known as Bara Bazar, Shillong's main traditional market. Farmers use these buses to carry their produce to the market, and traders and daily commuters depend on them too.

Rynjah said moving the buses would cut a long-standing link between rural areas and Iewduh. He argued that a transport hub serving farmers, traders and commuters should not be sacrificed to make room for street vendors.

He pointed to the government's own policy of recognising markets that have existed for more than 50 years as heritage markets. He asked why the same consideration could not apply to a bus stand that has supported trade at Iewduh for decades.

What the association wants

The KHBBA has urged the state government to rethink the decision and settle the issue through talks. It says the change would hurt not only bus operators but also commuters, farmers and traders who rely on the service.

The government has not publicly responded to the association's stand.

What happens next

The relocation is due to take effect on Thursday, November 12. NEInsider will update this story if the government, the East Khasi Hills district administration or the transport department responds, or if the deadline changes.