Shillong, June 16: The Meghalaya government has launched a crackdown on the illegal commercial use of private vehicles, banning the rental of two-wheelers and four-wheelers by individuals or agencies not authorised under state or central transport laws.
It may be recalled that Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, the couple involved in the Sohra incident, had reportedly hired a scooty from Shillong that was not registered with the state authorities.
A public notice issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Transport on May 13, 2025, clarified that Meghalaya has not notified or implemented the Rent-a-Motorcycle or Rent-a-Cab schemes. This means no private party is legally permitted to rent out personal vehicles for tourist or commercial purposes.
This regulatory gap came into sharp focus after Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, the couple involved in the Sohra incident, reportedly rented a scooter from Shillong, which was not registered under any authorised rental scheme.
The ban is being enforced under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, specifically:
Section 66 mandates a valid permit for operating transport vehicles.
Section 192A – Penalises unauthorised use of vehicles for commercial purposes.
Section 207 – Empowers authorities to seize violator vehicles.
The Commissioner of Transport has warned that violators will face severe penalties, including fines, vehicle seizure, and imprisonment.
Superintendent of Police (Traffic), East Khasi Hills, K. Prasad, confirmed enforcement has already begun. “We’ve received the directive and have activated all our ground staff and traffic units. Anyone found hiring or offering private vehicles without permits will face strict action under the MV Act,” he said.
When asked whether the order is confined to East Khasi Hills, he clarified, “This directive is applicable across the state as it comes directly from the Transport Commissioner. We’re enforcing it here, but all districts are expected to follow.”
Traffic checks are already underway in key areas around Shillong, including Mawlai, MES Junction, and various tourist hotspots. “We are checking both local and outstation vehicles. Violators will be charged under Sections 182E and 207,” Prasad added.
The order also applies to unregistered services such as Rapido:
“If Rapido or similar services are not registered under the Transport Department, they too fall under this crackdown.”
Prasad noted that nakas (checkpoints) have been set up for 24×7 surveillance, especially at border routes and entry points into tourist zones.
In light of the incident, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh earlier announced the state is reviewing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, and will make the Meghalaya Tourism App mandatory for all accommodations. The app helps track visitor movement and transport arrangements, thereby improving oversight and ensuring tourist safety.
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
