SHILLONG: The Joint Co-Ordination Committee of Commercial Vehicles on Friday raised concerns on the increase of tourist taxis from outside the state especially from neighbouring state of Assam and even from West Bengal as it has resulted in loss of employment opportunities for local taxis in the state.
The committee has demanded from the government to make restrictions on all tourist taxis from outside the state which will be highly beneficial for Meghalaya tourist and local taxis.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Transport Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar on Friday, secretary of the committee, Kordor L Mawlong informed that the minister said it was up to the tourism department but assured that he will forward the letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who is the minister in-charge of the tourism department.
“Tourist taxis from Assam and West Bengal should be stopped at a certain point so as to allow local tourist taxis to ferry tourists in and around the tourist spots in the state. After the sightseeing is over, the tourists will then be ferried back to the point”, Mawlong said.
He stated that the committee is not stopping tourist taxis from entering the state since they have obtained permits but the local taxis should be given the responsibility to take the tourists to different destinations. He added that driving tourist taxis is another way of employment considering that the government is pushing for self employment and different entrepreneurial ventures.
Similarly, chairman of the committee, Wandonbok Jyrwa said that it will ease the mundane traffic issues if the tourist taxis from outside the state are restricted from plying on the road.
He informed that during the time when HDR Lyngdoh was the transport minister, an idea was mooted to have a similar policy as followed in famous tourist attractions of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Darjeeling which was not materialised in the state.
