The All-Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxis Association (AKMTTA) has called on Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to establish a reciprocal transport agreement between Meghalaya and Assam to benefit transporters in both states.
The association made this appeal in a letter to the CM on Tuesday, proposing a system similar to the Sikkim-West Bengal Reciprocal Transport Agreement (RTA).
AKMTTA president Ricaldison Dohling highlighted that such an arrangement would create new opportunities for local taxi drivers by allowing state carriage permits, special permits, and private service vehicle permits, thereby boosting their income.
The association also urged the Meghalaya government to introduce the Meghalaya Motor Vehicle and Taxation Rules to regulate transportation, ensuring a more streamlined system for transporters.
Additionally, AKMTTA has proposed setting up 24/7 information centres at Guwahati Airport, the railway station, and Umroi’s Shillong Airport, to provide essential tourist information.
In response to growing concerns about competition from out-of-state transporters, AKMTTA suggested the establishment of checkpoints at the entrances of all major tourist sites in Meghalaya.
These checkpoints would issue tourism permits to ensure a fair distribution of business between local and visiting transporters.
However, the association clarified that they do not advocate banning vehicles from other states, but rather a more coordinated system.
“Commercial vehicles from other states should drop tourists at designated locations, and local cabbies should ferry them to tourist spots,” said Dohling.
The association's demands come amid rising concerns over the livelihood of taxi drivers in the Khasi Jaintia region, many of whom are struggling to compete with out-of-state transporters.
AKMTTA recently held a rally at Malki Ground in Shillong, where they expressed frustration with the state government’s tourism policies and called for immediate changes.
Meanwhile, Assam’s Motor Parivan Sewakarmi Sanmilita Manch has threatened to suspend tourist operations to Meghalaya if these demands lead to restrictive measures for Assam’s transporters.
On Sunday, transport operators in Assam, under the banner of the Motor Parivan Sewakarmi Sanmilita Manch, issued a stern warning to taxi associations in Meghalaya, threatening to halt tourist operations to the neighbouring state.
This warning was in retaliation to the All-Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association’s (AKMTTA) demand for the Meghalaya government to restrict Assam tourist taxis from accessing key tourist destinations within the state.
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