Shillong, September 23, 2025: The All Meghalaya Khasi Tourist Taxis Association, represented by its Secretary Shri Balajied, has shared details of its meeting today with the state government, where three key resolutions were discussed and adopted in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, along with officials from the Transport and Tourism Departments.
According to Shri Balajied, the first resolution was to place the committee—previously under the Tourism Department—under the leadership of the Transport Department, which the Association asserted is the appropriate authority to deal with transport-related issues.
The second resolution was to convene a follow-up meeting between October 10–15, 2025, where the Association will present detailed suggestions and concerns. These will include issues related to the functioning of Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) of various states, as well as the need for proper parking facilities at the airport, railway station, and key entry points such as Khanapara.
The third resolution highlighted the need for thorough preparation on both sides. While the Association will compile its submissions, the Chief Secretary’s office has committed to studying laws and policies from other states to ensure that any new framework for Meghalaya is legally sound and free of future challenges.
During the meeting, the Association also cited Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (sub-sections 4, 5, and 6), which empowers state governments to make agreements on inter-state vehicle operations. They urged the government to frame a policy regulating vehicles from outside Meghalaya, ensuring that only local taxis and tourist cabs are permitted to ferry passengers within the state.
Shri Balajied emphasized that these demands have been raised repeatedly over the past two to three years. “What is required now is political will. We have seen in other states how policies were implemented overnight when there was conviction. We hope that with the Deputy Chief Minister himself heading this process, our demands will finally be addressed,” he said.
The Association expressed optimism that the government will act decisively and take concrete steps to strengthen Meghalaya’s tourism and taxi sector.
