Assam taxi operators launch indefinite strike over Meghalaya’s entry curbs, warning restrictions could hit tourism and hurt regional connectivity.
Assam taxi operators protest at Jorabat against Meghalaya entry curbs, demanding free movement for vehicles holding multi-state and tourist permits.
Assam: The dispute over restrictions on Assam-registered tourist vehicles in Meghalaya has escalated sharply, with taxi operators from Assam launching an indefinite strike against the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA).
The standoff intensified after reports that Meghalaya registration commercial vehicles were not being allowed into Assam at Jorabat, on the Assam-Meghalaya border. Assam-based tourist cab operators including those with Assam-Meghalaya-Arunachal permits staged protests at the point, warning of further disruptions if Meghalaya continued to restrict their entry.
The AKMTTA has insisted that Assam taxis, along with those from other states, should be limited to dropping tourists at central locations like Shillong. From there, visitors would be required to use local Meghalaya tourist taxis for travel to major attractions, a move the association says is necessary to support local tourism livelihoods.
A team of TDG visited the spot at Jorabat. "We will not allow them to enter Assam. Our demand is that ML cars can come here but we can't go there."
Similar blocks were there near the airport route, which connects to Meghalaya. "Earlier, we used to take tourists to Shillong and do sightseeing. This was a profit for both parties, us and them. People used to stay in Shillong, and we took them there. Now, they think we earn more than they do. My question is, what is the point of having a three-state permit then if we can't go there for tourism purposes?"
However, Assam operators under the banner of the Motor Parivan Sewakarmi Sanmilita Mancha (MPSSM) have argued that their vehicles already hold valid three-state permits covering Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, with several even possessing all-India tourist permits. They accused the Meghalaya association of creating unnecessary barriers that could hurt the region’s interconnected tourism circuit. A Cab owner told TDG, "we want to request the Meghalaya government that we want cars from both sides to commute without any hassle."
The MPSSM strike, which began Thursday, has brought together a wide spectrum of operators including those running tourist cabs such as Dzires, Tata Sumos, Innovas, Travellers, as well as buses and tankers. The body warned that Meghalaya’s tourism industry could face a “major setback” if the restrictions continue, as visitors may prefer to avoid the state altogether.
