By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Maxi Sumo plying between Shillong and Guwahati are charging thrice the government rate from passengers. This is a trend during this time of the year as sumo drivers resort to charge exorbitantly, said many disgruntled passengers who are at the receiving end.
A passenger who had to catch a connecting train from Guwahati on Wednesday said that he was asked to pay Rs500 by a sumo driver from the Rilbong Point on Tuesday. “Considering the condition of the highway I want to travel to Guwahati a day earlier since there is no guarantee. But these sumo drivers asked me to pay thrice the actual rate,” said the person who is an executive of a mobile company.
Another such passenger said that it is ridiculous since these sumo drivers are ransoming everybody in broad daylight. Many passengers also said that they have been charged between Rs200 to Rs300 last week whereas from this week the rate has gone up to Rs500. And due to this many passengers preferred to travel by MTC buses. “What I would suggest is that the state government should emulate the SPTS bus service example even on the Shillong Guwahati route,” said a Shillongite. A tourist said that the tourist taxis are compensating the trip losses due to the ongoing traffic. “It is understood that these tourist taxis are making up for the losses on their trips. But the question is how much they should charge. I believe it is not three times,” she said.
Meanwhile, a sumo driver from Garikhana reasoned that the traffic deadlock in the Shillong Guwahati highway have left them nowhere and as such they have to charge at least double.
The District Transport Officer could not be reached for comments since his mobile was switched off. It may be mentioned that the General Secretary, Meghalaya Tourist Transporters Association (MTTA) has recently stated that the State Government in its notification released earlier this year has fixed Rs391.50 for Indica taxi and Rs164 for sumo fare for each person.
