The East Khasi Hills unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has expressed its shock and dismay over the recent notification from the transport authorities in the district that effectively banned bike taxis.
The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, as chair of the Regional Transport Authority, said that bike taxi operators have to register and apply for a licence prior to commencement of operations as per the Meghalaya Taxi Aggregator Operational Rules.
While Rapido has been operating in Shillong for some years now, Uber’s two-wheeler service only got going in April this year. Ironically, the Commissioner and Secretary of Transport, MR Synrem, was present at the launch.
Today, TMC district coordinator Dominic S Wankhar said, “The directive comes in the wake of rising unemployment within the urban population and such public transport services have helped many youths from the semi-urban and urban areas to earn a living.”
Instead of using their offices to improve transport services, the officials responsible for the ban are more concerned with using their clout to stop such public services, he added.
Bike taxis have also helped reduce Shillong’s notorious traffic jams caused by taking cars off the road, the TMC said, while questioning why other political parties have remained silent on the matter.
