From Our Correspondent
KHLIEHRIAT: Despite various efforts that have been undertaken by the Authorities including the District Administration and the Office of the District Transport Officer to check the illegal plying of private cars as taxis in East Jaintia Hills District, the practice is yet to be curbed as many private vehicles can be seen plying carrying passengers.
This illegal practice has not only affected the business of taxi owners but has also adversely affected the revenue of the Transport Department in the State
Private cars, such as, Maruti car and Maruti Van besides other vehicles can be seen plying illegally as taxi openly without any valid permits or any other documents issued by the Transport Department.
In a bid to check illegal plying of private cars as taxis, the District Regional Transport Authority in Jaintia hills last year decided to issue more than 300 local taxi permits to vehicle owners within Khliehriat Region with a view to replace private cars with local taxis but very few vehicles owners have turned up.
Non-cooperation from vehicle owners besides ineffective implementation of the motor vehicle Act and failing to take stern action against vehicle owners by the concerned authority, the illegal plying of private cars as Taxis still continues in the newly created East Jaintia hills District.
In the past, various Jaintia based NGOs particularly the All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO) have lodged several complaints with the concerned authority and with the government against illegal plying of vehicles in the area but none has taken up the matter seriously.
The AJYWO has also lodged a complaint to the Ministry of Road Transports (MoRTs) in this regard.
The MoRTs have also directed the state government to take stern action against those vehicle owners plying their private cars as Taxis.