Service to be launched by December
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Encouraged by the hugely-successful SPTS bus service launched in the city recently, the State Government is now contemplating to run 20 maxi taxis to further strengthen the public transport system in the city.
Informing this here on Tuesday, Principal Secretary, Urban Affairs, P Naik said the 7-seater maxi taxis would be launched on a trial basis on specified routes.
The maxi taxis would cater to those areas and routes where the SPTS buses have not yet been introduced.
“The proposed maxi taxis have been awarded to the State under the 13th Finance Commission,” Naik told reporters here on Tuesday.
“This proposed move will further ease traffic congestion in the city,” Naik said, adding the Government has planned to launch the taxis by December this year.
Meanwhile, Naik also informed that some buses, procured under the 13 th Finance Commission, would be allotted to other municipal areas of the State.
According to Naik, Tura would be given 10 buses while Baghmara and Resubelpara would be provided with two buses each. Jowai will be given 5 buses while Williamnagar will have four buses.
The decision to introduce the bus service in other towns of the State has come as a response to the growing demand for introduction of the highly-successful bus service in other towns.
Meanwhile, Naik informed that Global Position System (GPS) navigation system would be installed on these buses within a month. “In next six months we will procure all the remaining buses sanctioned to us,” Naik added.