Shillong, November 11: Drivers of line buses and bazaar buses have threatened to suspend services in protest against the MDA government’s decision to shift their stand from Mawlong Hat to Anjalee Parking through the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
The Mawlong Hat stand, formerly known as Stand Tabung, is currently used by bazaar buses, while Anjalee Parking accommodates tourist Sumos operating on the Jowai route. MUDA plans to use the space vacated at Mawlong Hat to accommodate street vendors.
The Khasi Hills Bazaar Bus Association, led by president K. Rynjah and general secretary Markus Tangle, said it had decided at a meeting to continue operating from the existing stand. The association leaders told reporters that they had already written to the authorities regarding the proposed relocation but were yet to receive a response.
They said the stand had served the public since the days when horses were used to transport goods and had long been connected with Ïewduh, particularly for farmers who bring their produce there for sale.
According to the association, buses operating from Mawlong Hat serve 41 villages across five districts. The leaders warned that relocating the stand could affect farmers, daily commuters and others who depend on the market.
They also expressed concern over the difficulties schoolchildren from remote villages, particularly those from economically weaker families, could face if the stand was shifted. They said many students depend on bazaar buses because of their comparatively lower fares.
The association further claimed that the earnings of bazaar bus drivers had declined since the introduction of green buses.
While expressing support for providing space to street vendors, the association questioned why MUDA had chosen to relocate a bus stand that had served the public for generations. It also suggested that vendors could instead be accommodated at Anjalee Parking.
The leaders questioned the basis for the relocation, stating that they had not received any written order from the authorities.
They also referred to the government’s promise regarding Them Metor, which they said had been presented as a “Christmas gift” ahead of the elections but remained unfulfilled. They alleged that the government was moving ahead with the relocation of bazaar buses while the earlier promise was yet to be delivered.
The association said it wanted to resolve the matter through discussions with the government. However, its leaders said they would wait to see what happens on November 12 before deciding on their next course of action.
