Meghalaya Taxi Union to Protest Govt’s Assam Taxi Policy

Tourist Taxi Associations in Meghalaya to Rally Against Govt’s Stance on Assam Cabs

The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) has announced a rally on September 18 at Malki Ground, Shillong, to protest the state government’s stance on tourism and local transport policies.

The rally aims to show solidarity among tourist taxi associations across Meghalaya, challenging the government’s perceived leniency toward Assam taxis transporting visitors to key tourist spots in the state. This issue has caused tensions between local taxi drivers and the government, particularly regarding the impact of Assam-based cabs on Meghalaya’s tourism sector.

The protest follows a contentious statement by Meghalaya’s Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, who claimed that many taxi drivers in the state operate independently without being part of a formal association. This remark has been strongly opposed by AKMTTA, which accused the minister of misleading the public about the unity among the state’s taxi drivers.

AKMTTA President, Ricaldinus Dohling, emphasized the association’s unified stance, reiterating their demand to ban Assam tourist vehicles from ferrying passengers within Meghalaya’s tourist destinations. “Our rally will demonstrate the collective strength of taxi drivers in the state. We are united in our call to protect our livelihoods from the encroachment of Assam-based cabs,” he added.

This rally comes after a week-long black flag protest organized by the association, which ended recently. During the protest, taxi drivers expressed their dissatisfaction with the state government’s inaction regarding the growing presence of Assam tourist taxis. The association argues that allowing these taxis to operate freely threatens the local economy and compromises the livelihoods of thousands of taxi drivers who depend on tourism.

Responding to Minister Lyngdoh’s defense that Assam plays a vital role in generating tourism revenue for Meghalaya, Dohling criticized the government’s reliance on Assam for key services. He highlighted that many Meghalaya residents must travel to Assam for essential healthcare services, often at significant personal cost.

“It seems the government is content relying on Assam for everything, from healthcare to education, rather than developing its infrastructure,” Dohling remarked.

This conflict points to broader issues of infrastructure and development in Meghalaya, where the state’s dependence on neighboring Assam has long been a contentious issue.

Despite the critical role that Assam’s infrastructure — such as the Guwahati airport and railway station — plays in boosting Meghalaya’s tourism, local taxi associations argue that the state government should prioritize building a self-sufficient and sustainable revenue model that serves its citizens and local businesses.

The AKMTTA rally is expected to attract significant participation from taxi drivers across Meghalaya, many of whom feel marginalized by policies favoring outside operators. The rally aims to send a strong message to the government that local transport workers are united in their demand for fair regulations that protect their livelihoods and the local economy.

As the debate continues, the association remains firm in its opposition to the state’s policies, calling for concrete measures to address their grievances and ensure that Meghalaya’s tourism sector benefits its local stakeholders first and foremost.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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