By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The much-hyped maxi taxis which were planned to be launched in the city by December this year has called for much applause from the people citing the move would further systematise the transport system.
After the success of the SPTS bus service launched in the city recently, people are now eagerly awaiting the launching of these maxi taxis contemplated by the state government to further strengthen the public transport system in the city.
Irked by the sudden rise of the local taxi fares, a person from Bishnupur said “I hope with the launching of these maxi taxis, we will not have to worry much about our pockets”, adding “sometimes we have to think twice before boarding a local cab because the fare they charge is not equivalent to the distance.”
However, local taxi drivers have a different opinion towards this initiative. A local taxi driver admitted that everyday they have a tough time earning as they spend Rs 600 for petrol and the total earning in a day comes down to Rs 300 or Rs 200 since Rs 300 goes to the owner of the taxi.
‘‘By the time these maxi cabbies ply in the streets of Shillong, we are better off sitting at home and looking for another job”, the cab driver rued.
Recently, Principal Secretary, Urban Affairs, P Naik said the State Government is contemplating to run 20 maxi taxis and the 7-seater maxi taxis would be launched on a trial basis on specified routes and 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 added.
Meanwhile, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed that the sanctioning of these proposed vehicles has been sorted out and probably would be launched before the end of December this year.
When asked about the fares of these maxi taxis, Lyngdoh told this reporter on Monday that the collection of fares will be different from that of the SPTS buses saying that “these vehicles are smaller in size, so a different method will be sort out”.
She further informed that a Tariff Committee would be constituted to decide on the fares of these vehicles and to operate the services of these vehicles.