By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government is planning to launch the much talked about maxi cab service during the Meghalaya Day celebration on January 21.
“We are planning to launch 40 maxi cabs during the Meghalaya Day celebration on January 21,” Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters on Saturday, while informing that the maxi cabs would be operated by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).
Meanwhile, SMB CEO Tableland Lyngwa has informed that the SMB has decided to enter into an agreement with an SHG from Mawpat to run the maxi cab service.
“The SHG would assist the Board in operating the cabs since SMB is not in position to run the service being already overburdened with so many functions,” Lyngwa said.
When asked about the total cost of the 40 maxi cabs, Lyngwa informed that it was over Rs 1 crore.
Meanwhile, the Urban Affairs Minister has informed that a different mode of collection of fares would be adopted which would be different from the SPTS bus system.
“These vehicles are smaller in size so a different method of fare collection would be chalked out,” Ampareen added.
She further informed that a Tariff Committee would be constituted to decide on the fares and operation of the maxi cab service.
Earlier, Principal Secretary, Urban Affairs, P Naik had said that the State Government was contemplating to run 20 maxi taxis and the 7-seater maxi taxis to be launched on a trial basis on specified routes and would cater to those areas and routes where the SPTS buses have not yet been introduced.
These proposed maxi taxis which have been awarded to the State under the 13th Finance Commission will further ease traffic congestion in the city, Naik had stated.