By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 16: The Meghalaya government on Tuesday underlined legal constraints and long-term structural solutions as it held another round of discussions with the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) over the operation of tourist taxis in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister also in-charge Transport Department Sniawbhalang Dhar said the meeting was a continuation of earlier engagements and described the interaction as constructive. He said the government had clearly explained that certain demands, particularly restrictions on the entry of vehicles from outside the state, could not be enforced under existing laws. According to him, the association understood the legal position, even as it placed new suggestions before the government for consideration.
Dhar said the government’s approach was to support local taxi operators while ensuring that no section was adversely affected. He added that some of the proposals made by the association were valid and would require time for examination before any decision is taken.
Among the suggestions discussed was a proposal to request hotels and resorts to prioritise local tourist taxis for ferrying visitors. The Transport Minister said the government had accepted the idea in principle, while stressing the need for local taxi operators to maintain clean vehicles and ensure drivers are properly updated and verified. He said discussions with hotel and resort owners on this aspect are yet to be initiated.
Referring to the recent agitation and its spillover into Assam, Dhar said the association had acknowledged the wider repercussions and had assured the government that such incidents would not be repeated.
He also said the government had advised all taxi associations to come together and work with the Tourism Department on developing a common mobile application to improve visibility and competitiveness of local taxi services. According to him, the issue would be taken up in the next meeting, with the possibility of forming a unified platform. He added that drivers listed on such an app would be verified by the department to build confidence among tourists, including visitors from outside the state.
AKMTTA spokesperson Balajied Jyrwa said the association welcomed the idea of a mobile application but pointed out that a similar app introduced by the Tourism Department had remained non-functional for nearly two years. He said the issue was again discussed during Tuesday’s meeting, and the government had indicated that certain interim measures would be taken to support local drivers.
While describing the app as a positive step, Jyrwa said further interventions were needed to strengthen the local tourism transport sector. He also said representatives from AKMTTA and taxi associations from other districts were present at the meeting.
Jyrwa added that the presence of the Attorney General in Tuesday’s meeting allowed for a detailed discussion on legal remedies and challenges related to the implementation of motor vehicle rules, which could not be addressed in the previous meeting due to his absence.
The AKMTTA has been demanding that only local tourist taxis be allowed to ferry visitors to destinations of local tourist interest within Meghalaya. The association has also sought a system under which tourist taxis from outside the state would be permitted to drop passengers only up to Shillong and not operate further.
The dispute intensified after the association launched an agitation on September 16 against the entry of tourist taxis from other states, particularly Assam, into Meghalaya’s tourist destinations. This triggered a counter-agitation by taxi operators in Assam, who blocked tourist taxis from Meghalaya from entering Guwahati, disrupting inter-state tourist movement.
