Reprieve for tourist taxis
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In what can be a slight reprieve for the agitating tourist taxi operators, the East Khasi Hills district administration has decided to allow brief stopover for the tourist taxis in batches of five near the Anjalee Cinema, but categorically ruled out revoking the ban on parking at Khyndai Lad, the hub of the city.
The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, J Lyngdoh, on Thursday had another round of talks with the Greater Shillong Tourist Taxi Association (GSTTA), and arrived at a decision to allow the different categories of vehicles, i.e., tourist taxis (running on petrol), Tata Indica and Tata Sumo to park opposite Anjalee Cinema, in batches of five at a time.
As and when one vehicle moves out, another will take its place, according to the proposed arrangement. However, the main parking lot for these vehicles will continue to be at Polo. Speaking to The Shillong Times, Lyngdoh said there is no question of revoking the decision of not allowing them to park at Khyndai Lad.
The GSTTA had called for an indefinite strike from October 25 to protest the Government decision to shift the tourist taxi parking lot to Polo.
Amid the inconveniences faced by the daily commuters on Guwahati-Shillong route, the Transport Department had contemplated hiring even private vehicles to ease the communication bottleneck. A highly placed Transport department source said, “If required we will even hire private vehicles for the daily commuters.”
The Transport department has also asked commuters to lodge complaints, if any, against transport operators who overcharge bus fares. “We will take strong action against those who try to exploit commuters but the latter need to lodge complaints with the bus number noted,” sources added.
Due to the shortage of vehicles, passengers had to bear the brunt of the indefinite strike called by the transporters.
However, the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) had to some extent reduced their sufferings by running requisitioned buses on the Shillong-Guwahati road.
Source: The Shillong Times
