Raphael Warjri

Seeking to safeguard the livelihood of local drivers and regulate tourist transportation between Meghalaya and Assam, the All Khasi Hills Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) along with the Greater Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Drivers’ Union staged a sit-in demonstration at Khyndailad in the heart of Shillong on Tuesday.

The protestors pressed the state government to implement a Reciprocal Transport Agreement (RTA) with Assam, a framework that would enable fair cross-border operations for tourist vehicles from both states.

Speaking to the media, AKMTTA president Ricaldinus Dohling said that the demand for an RTA was first raised during meetings with government officials in 2023, where the state representatives had indicated a willingness to explore the matter. However, nearly two years later, no concrete policy has been framed.

“The government had given us verbal assurances, but nothing has materialised till date. Local tourist taxi operators continue to face stiff competition from outside vehicles, which are allowed to ferry visitors directly to key tourist spots in Meghalaya,” Dohling said.

According to the associations, unrestricted entry of Assam-registered tourist taxis into popular destinations such as Sohra (Cherrapunjee) and Dawki has resulted in substantial financial losses for Meghalaya’s drivers. The unions argued that a policy restricting out-of-state vehicles, or at least regulating their movement through an RTA, is crucial to protect the interests of local operators who depend on tourism for their livelihood.

The sit-in at Khyndailad was intended to highlight what the unions described as government inaction and to renew pressure on authorities to take immediate steps. The protesters maintained that without intervention, local drivers will continue to be sidelined in their own state’s tourism economy.