Inter-state meeting paves way for resumed tourist taxi movement
SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday reached a consensus to facilitate unhindered movement of tourist taxis between the two states and address operational concerns after an impasse triggered in August, officials said.
The agreement was reached at a joint meeting in Shillong attended by representatives of seven tourist taxi associations from Assam and five from Meghalaya. The meeting was jointly chaired by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora. Transport commissioners of both states initially convened the deliberations.
According to the Meghalaya side, the associations raised practical issues that affected drivers and operators, including the need for adequate parking for tourist vehicles at the Shillong airport, the provision of toilet facilities, and the manner in which police checks were being carried out during inter-state movement.
“Both associations have committed to work together from now onwards. If any minor lapses remain, they will be resolved within a few days,”
— Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
As part of the understanding, the Assam government agreed to take steps to meet the demands regarding parking and toilets. The two state administrations also directed their police forces to coordinate during vehicle inspections to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to tourist taxi operators.
Mechanism to resolve disputes and prevent recurrence
To ensure a structured response to any future issues, the states decided to set up a sub-committee led by their Transport Commissioners. The committee will meet as required to address grievances raised by the respective associations and to prevent similar disruptions.
Assam’s Atul Bora said that the discussions were held following directives from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and earlier engagements with protesters after a separate demonstration by the Khasi Students’ Union that had given rise to tensions. Bora said a meeting in Guwahati on August 22 had produced resolutions and that subsequent consultations with protesters led to withdrawal of demonstrations.
Both ministers described Tuesday’s follow-up meeting as constructive and said the situation had largely normalised. Officials added that the associations had committed to cooperate in implementing the agreements.
What was agreed (summary)
- Hassle-free movement: Directives to police forces of both states to coordinate vehicle checks to prevent harassment of drivers.
- Facilities at Shillong airport: Assam to address requests for dedicated parking space for tourist vehicles and adequate toilet facilities.
- Institutional mechanism: A sub-committee headed by the Transport Commissioners of Assam and Meghalaya to meet as required to resolve issues.
Local impact and next steps
Tourist taxi operators in both states depend on cross-border routes for livelihood and the agreement is aimed at restoring confidence among those who had faced operational difficulties since the August disturbance. The sub-committee is expected to be the principal forum for ironing out technical and logistical problems, such as parking allocation at hubs like the Shillong airport, which were specifically mentioned during the meeting.
Officials did not provide a timeline for implementation of all measures, but said the police coordination directive was immediate. The transport commissioners will report on progress and convene the sub-committee whenever required to address fresh concerns.
Context
The meeting comes after tensions earlier in August that affected movement of tourist taxis between Assam and Meghalaya. The follow-up discussions were sought by Meghalaya associations and attended by representatives of both states and seven Assam associations, signalling a return to institutional dialogue as the preferred way to settle disputes.
| Item | Decision |
|---|---|
| Vehicle checks | Police to coordinate to avoid harassment |
| Parking at Shillong airport | Assam to take steps to provide parking space |
| Toilet facilities | Assam to address demand |
| Dispute resolution | Sub-committee led by Transport Commissioners |
Officials said both governments and the associations have undertaken to work collaboratively to prevent any fresh disruption. If minor lapses remain, they are expected to be resolved in the coming days through the agreed mechanism.
