SHILLONG: Local taxis in Khasi and Jaintia Hills will stop plying from March 24 to March 31 in a collaborative effort to check spread of Corona virus to the state although the commercial vehicles will be available for medical emergency cases.
The general secretary of East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association, Wandonbok Jyrwa said that sick people and their attendants could call the association in case they want to be taken to hospital.
He said that the Commissioner of Transport, I.W. Ingty called the local taxi drivers association for an urgent meeting pertaining to the current situation.
However, the drivers from West Khasi Hills, East and West Jaintia Hills could not make it to the meeting as they cannot cross over to another district. Jyrwa said that the drivers from these districts have agreed to the decision to stay off the road.
The drivers have warned that private vehicles should not take advantage of the situation and ferry passengers in their private vehicles.
“We have decided to stay off the road in a way to ensure that the spread of the disease is contained”, Jyrwa said.
However, with several households not owning a vehicle and are in urgent need to visit a hospital for medical check-up, he said that the local taxis will render their services and the persons concerned should inform the units of the association in various place in Shillong and people can call the number 8131936889.
“If any commercial vehicle is ferrying sick people then they indicate hazard light or the “double signal” during an emergency case such as any daily check up. Drivers should also conduct a check up to be sure of themselves”, he said.
He added that the driver should check the documents of the patient before taking the patient to the hospital. Jyrwa appealed that the public should call the drivers only for medical emergency cases.
He has also fervently appealed to the drivers to not take more than 3 passengers.
