SHILLONG, JUN 23: Meghalaya will start issuing state-level licences for two-wheeler taxi operators within the next two weeks, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said Tuesday, adding that a crackdown on illegal bike taxi services is underway.

Dhar said a departmental meeting is scheduled for next week to finalise the process. Eligible applicants, including individuals and aggregators, will receive licences provided their paperwork is complete.

“I will be having a meeting next week, so after ten days or two weeks, we will give a licence to whoever wants it, whether individual or whoever, if their documents are in order, it will be from a state licence,” Dhar said.

The deputy CM said transport officials have been asked to step up field enforcement against unlicensed operators. “I have instructed my officers to strengthen in the fields and to take action against those who are moving illegally on the road,” he stated.

He added that the department is still compiling data and will share figures on licences issued once the system is fully operational.“Information is being collected, we are yet to implement fully, once it is implemented fully, only then I will be able to tell you, how many of them have been issued licence,” Dhar said.