Shillong, Oct 18: A government-constituted committee, headed by Director of Tourism Cyril Diengdoh, on Friday requested tourist taxi associations to submit their suggestions in writing for further examination.
This came after the All Khasi Hills Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) proposed the implementation of a “Reciprocal Transport Agreement (RTA)” during a meeting convened by the committee. The proposed RTA aims to benefit both taxi associations of Meghalaya and Assam.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Diengdoh explained, “I have asked all tourist taxi associations to submit their suggestions in writing. Once we receive their submissions, we will consult the relevant departments, including law enforcement, the police, and the transport department, which is also a member of this committee. We will also involve other stakeholders before formulating recommendations.”
When asked about AKMTTA’s demand, the Director clarified that the association is not calling for a ban on Assam vehicles, recognizing that many tourists arrive via Guwahati airport.
“They (AKMTTA) have suggested certain policies for tourist spots. I have asked them to submit these suggestions in writing, as they did not elaborate on them during the meeting. Once we receive their proposals, we will consult the transport department and other stakeholders, as they referenced practices from other states. We need to examine these examples thoroughly,” he added.
Diengdoh emphasized that the meeting was a preliminary discussion and no decisions were made. “These are legal and policy matters that require time and consultation with multiple stakeholders. The committee’s mandate includes wide-ranging consultations,” he noted.
He further explained that most tourist spots in Meghalaya are managed by local communities, shnongs (villages), and societies, and these groups will also be consulted after receiving the written proposals from the taxi associations.
The director of tourism also shared that some suggestions from the taxi associations were practical, such as developing a mobile app for taxi associations and their drivers.
“One suggestion was to create an app listing all tourist taxi associations and their drivers. We agreed to develop this app through the tourism department. It will allow tourists to access information about the associations, drivers, and their routes, making it easier for them to hire local taxis,” he said.
Diengdoh also mentioned that several associations recommended a capacity-building program to train taxi drivers.
“We are pleased they brought this up. We understand that today’s drivers must also serve as tour guides, as tourists often ask for information about various destinations. Taxi drivers need training in tour guiding, communication skills, and other areas. The government is prepared to provide this training, and we have asked the associations to provide a list of drivers so we can plan the program accordingly,” he concluded.
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