SHILLONG, Nov 17: Peeved at the undue advantage allegedly taken by cabbies, the Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun on Wednesday met East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, to apprise her about a situation wherein exorbitant taxi fares are reportedly being
charged from passengers in the city.
Talking to reporters after meeting the deputy commissioner, president of the organisation, Samuel Biam, said that the issue came to light after complaints were received from people with regard to exorbitant fares charged by local cabbies.
He said the drivers say that the increase in fares is the result of government SOPs which they need to follow in view of COVID-19. “There is no justification to increase the fare since the taxis are carrying passengers even beyond the capacity limit. No one is following the SOPs,” Biam contradicted.
He said that there are many people who work in far-off places and cannot afford to go to work in a cab since the fares are too expensive.
However, he said that since they acknowledged the problems faced by the cab drivers, the Seng Samla urged the deputy commissioner to do away with the order which paved way for odd-even rule.
“We had urged the Deputy Commissioner if this notification of odd and even number can be revoked with the improvement in the COVID-19 situation. We are happy that she (Laloo) has assured to examine and probably within the next few days it will be revoked,” the organisation president said.
He, however, stressed that the taxi driver would have to bring down the taxi fares once the cabs are allowed to ply six days a week.
The organisation had also raised the issue pertaining to overcharging by Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) buses with the deputy commissioner. “This is not acceptable since STPS buses are expected to charge a minimal fare. But sadly they are also exploiting the situation,” the organisation president.
He also informed that the SC has assured to convene a meeting with Meghalaya Urban Development Authority on the issue.