Transport dept bans illegal use of private vehicles for commercial purpose
Shillong, June 16: The state government has banned unauthorised use of private vehicles in commercial purpose following the revelation that a privately-owned scooter was taken on rent by the tourist couple – Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raja Raghuvanshi, who was later found murdered in Sohra.
In an order, the Transport department has specifically mentioned about the illegal renting of two-wheelers and four-wheelers to tourists and other individuals or agencies.
The two-wheeler hired by Raja and Sonam from Shillong was not registered with the state authorities.
“Meghalaya has not notified or implemented the Rent-a-Motorcycle or Rent-a-Cab schemes yet,” the official order stated, adding, “This means no private party is legally permitted to rent out personal vehicles for tourist or commercial purposes.”
The order said violators would face severe penalties, including fines, vehicle seizure, and imprisonment.
Confirming about the crackdown based on the order, East Khasi Hills SP (Traffic) K Prasad said, “We’ve received the directive and 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.”
Traffic checks are already under way in key areas around Shillong, including Mawlai, MES Junction, and various tourist hotspots.
Checkpoints have also been set up for 24×7 surveillance, especially at border routes and entry points into tourist zones.
“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,” the SP said.
Meanwhile, tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh declared that the state government would review the provisions of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 to strengthen it further and also make mandatory for all accommodation facilities to register with Meghalaya Tourism App.
The app helps track visitor movement and transport arrangements, thereby improving oversight and ensuring tourist safety.
