Shillong, Feb 17: The yellow and black taxi cabs are back in business after days of stand-off between the local commercial taxi association and the state government.

Khyndai Lad, the upscale commercial hub swings back to business while traffic snarls greeted the people again after a long time. While Iewduh, thronged by people from urban and rural areas leaped back to business again.

A taxi driver said, “There was no source of income during those days. It was difficult”.

The taxi driver informed that the taxi fare was reduced and did not stick with the taxi rate during the pandemic days. During the pandemic, taxi fare was high.

It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles called for an indefinite agitation on February 3 after their various demands which they placed before the government fell on deaf ears. In their submission to the government, the committee said that the state government has imposed 100 percent tax adding up days which they were restricted to ply during the lockdown period. The JAC was also not happy with the high price of fuel.

The committee wanted the government to cut taxes by 50 percent arguing that they are burdened by taxes particularly at a time when business had slumped for almost an entire year in 2020 due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

Again, the chairman of the committee, Wandonbok Jyrwa has appealed for public support when they intensified their agitation. Very few private cars were seen on Shillong roads on Monday and Tuesday. With no public transport and few Maxi cabs, the general public had no choice but to walk.

The repercussion of the agitation showed a declined economic activity in Khyndai Lad, Iewduh and other places.