By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 13: Succumbing to pressure from local taxi drivers, the state government on Thursday decided to keep on hold the odd-even system for cabs in Police Bazar and Motphran.
Unhappy with the decision of the East Khasi Hills district administration, the cabbies staged a protest at the Civil Hospital-Khyndailad junction and at Motphran in the city. The protest led to severe traffic congestion especially in the stretch from Barik Point to Khyndailad and vice versa as well as hardship to commuters who were left to fend for themselves.
After refusing to ferry passengers, cabbies parked their taxis at the Civil Hospital junction and even stopped some others from ferrying passengers.
Later, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home, Prestone Tynsong said the cabbies met Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah after which the government took the decision to keep the order on hold.
“The government will review and discuss the issue and take a decision in the best interest of everyone,” he added.
Celebrating their “victory”, the East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association (EKHLTWA) called off their protest on Thursday evening.
“We will ply our taxis from tomorrow and will wait for the new notification to come out,” EKHLTWA president, Wandonbok Jyrwa said.