Sawkmie wants relook on odd-even rule for cabbies

SHILLONG, June 4: In view of the odd-even number system for commercial vehicles in Police Bazar, former MLA Process T Sawkmie has urged the district administration to reconsider the decision to re-impose the rule while also pointing out that the lives of the cabbies will be affected with this decision.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Sawkmie said that the district administration’s decision, which intends to ease the traffic congestion in the city, will also affect the taxis drivers.
“I recall that the government had resorted to a similar system during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this decision has affected the livelihood of the taxi drivers,” Sawkmie said.
He stressed that any policy introduced by the government should be pro-people.
He also flagged that commercial taxes imposed on commercial vehicles are very high. “We have witnessed that authority imposes fine on vehicles that are unable to pay their taxes on time,” Sawkmie said.
It may be mentioned that the district administration of East Khasi Hills has decided to impose the odd-even traffic rule for all commercial vehicles plying towards Police Bazar and Motphran from June 5. As per the order, all public transport vehicles i.e. SPTS buses, SSPTS maxi cabs and local taxis plying from Kachari Point towards Police Bazar and Motphran will operate on an odd-even basis from June 5.
The East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association had on Friday decided to move the High Court of Meghalaya against the district administration’s decision.
The Deputy Commissioner, RM Kurbah had, however, made it very clear that the order could not be revoked since it was done in pursuant with the order of the High Court to adopt immediate measures to ease the traffic in Shillong, particularly around the central business district and the entry and exit points.