Shillong, May 26: Bike taxi riders operating through the ride-hailing company Rapido on Tuesday gathered at the office of the District Transport Officer (DTO), East Khasi Hills, seeking clarification over the Meghalaya government’s warning against illegal bike taxi operations in Shillong.
The protest came within 24 hours after Commissioner & Secretary of the Transport Department, Sanjay Goyal, announced on Monday that the government would begin crackdowns on two-wheeler taxi operators functioning without proper registration with the DTO office.
Speaking to reporters, one of the bike taxi riders associated with Rapido said they had met the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), identified as Bah Shadap, at the DTO office, where they were informed that bike taxi operators carrying passengers for commercial purposes must register through licensed aggregators as per the law and use commercial registration number plates.
According to the rider, the MVI clarified that Rapido is currently operating illegally in Meghalaya. “We want licences directly from the DTO and not through aggregators,” the rider said, adding that the MVI had informed them that bike taxi operators would have to register through aggregators authorised by the state government.
The riders also questioned why the government was declaring Rapido illegal despite the company having entered Meghalaya in 2019 and reportedly beginning operations in 2023. The rider further stated that they had also sought clarification from the company but had received no clear response. He added that the MVI informed them they cannot continue operating using private white number plates and would instead have to obtain commercial permits and use commercial registration plates.
As per estimates shared by the riders, around 2,000 to 3,000 people are currently earning their livelihood through online bike taxi services in Shillong.
