Assam transport workers’ body warn of severe impact on Meghalaya’s tourism
Guwahati, Sep 18: Stark differences between the tour operators of Assam and Meghalaya have threatened to severely affect tourism in Meghalaya with an Assam-based transport workers’ body alleging that their passengers were regularly hijacked in Meghalaya by tourist taxis from Meghalaya.
“Nearly 90% of tourists land in Guwahati and hire our taxis to Shillong. But now the Meghalaya associations stop us midway, take away our passengers, and send our vehicles back. This has been happening for months,” said Bipul Kalita, a member of Motor Parivan Sewakarmi Sanmilita Mancha (MPSSM), Assam.
In response to the prolonged resistance faced by Assam vehicles in Meghalaya, the MPSSM on Thursday launched an indefinite strike against All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA), which has allegedly been barring tourist vehicles from outside the state.
With nearly 50,000 vehicles under MPSSM, the strike will severely impact Meghalaya’s tourism sector, he warned.
Empathising with the affected tourists, he said, “Tourists are facing problems due to the strike, but we are helpless.”
Many visitors were left stranded at Jorabat and Khanapara as vehicles refused to ferry them to Shillong on Thursday.
“We are stuck at Jorabat because of the strike. None of the taxis is willing to go to Shillong. I have been waiting here for four hours,” said one tourist.
The MPSSM has termed the AKMTTA’s decision to ban out-of-state vehicles “unjustified and selfish.”
The move has created uncertainty for travellers and raised fears of long-term damage to the region’s tourism, which is heavily dependent on visitors from outside Meghalaya.
Most tourists travelling to Meghalaya arrive through Guwahati because of better air, rail, and road connectivity. Residents and travellers alike have urged both state governments to intervene immediately.
“If the strike continues, it will seriously affect tourism in Meghalaya. Both governments must resolve the issue quickly,” said Rajen Das, a resident of Jorabat.
