Shillong, July 16: Thousands of tourist taxi drivers from Assam are facing a significant threat to their livelihoods following a demand by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) to ban vehicles from other states from ferrying tourists to Meghalaya’s popular destinations.
The AKMTTA met with Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday, urging the government to issue an order prohibiting outside vehicles from entering tourist areas in the state. The association argued that such a ban would protect the income of local taxi drivers in Meghalaya.
In contrast, tourist taxi drivers from Guwahati have voiced strong opposition, claiming the proposed ban would lead to substantial financial losses and compromise tourist safety.
Executive president of the All Guwahati Tourist Taxi Drivers Union, Nitul Das, estimated that each driver could lose over Rs 2 lakh annually if the ban was implemented.
The affected drivers, who have secured permits to operate in Meghalaya, warned that they would cease ferrying passengers to the state should the ban be enforced. This move could potentially impact Meghalaya’s tourism sector.
President of the Greater Guwahati Tourist Taxi Association, Robin Kumar Dutta, expressed concerns about tourists’ safety, arguing that transferring passengers to different drivers would undermine their responsibility for the tourists’ well-being.
Meghalaya government has sought time till July 27 to take a decision on the demand of AKMTTA.
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