Shillong, September 8: Assam Tourism Minister and member of the High-Level Joint Committee, Atul Bora, said the Governments of Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to work together to address the grievances of tourist taxi operators and prevent further disruption to interstate travel.
Speaking after a joint stakeholders’ meeting attended by representatives of tourist taxi associations from both states, Bora described the discussions as constructive, saying the meeting provided all sides an opportunity to place their concerns directly before the two governments.
The meeting was convened following recent incidents involving Assam-registered tourist vehicles in Meghalaya and subsequent agitation by taxi operators. Bora said the two governments had immediately opened channels of communication to defuse tensions, restore normalcy and ensure the safety of passengers and drivers.
He appealed to taxi operators and their associations to remain calm and refrain from any action that could disturb public order or inconvenience travellers.
“The Governments of Assam and Meghalaya are committed to ensuring the safety and security of drivers, passengers and vehicles operating between the two states. Any dispute must be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding,” Bora said.
The Minister said concerns relating to parking facilities, designated taxi stands, airport access, passenger pick-up and drop-off points, and the movement of interstate tourist vehicles would be examined by the departments concerned.
Bora stressed that Assam and Meghalaya share deep historical, cultural, social and economic ties and said occasional disputes should not be allowed to weaken the longstanding relationship between the people of the two neighbouring states.
Referring to the continued cooperation between the two governments on bilateral matters, including the interstate boundary issue, Bora expressed confidence that the concerns of tourist taxi operators could likewise be addressed through sustained consultation and dialogue.
He added that further discussions would be held whenever necessary to review progress and ensure that decisions taken during the meeting are implemented effectively.
