Shillong, May 27: Scores of independent bike taxi riders operating under the banner of Ride to Serve Shillong on Wednesday met the office of the District Transport Officer (DTO), East Khasi Hills, seeking clarification over the government’s decision to crack down on bike taxi operators allegedly functioning illegally without registration under aggregators or without permits.
The visit to the DTO office came after Enforcement personnel reportedly fined several bike taxi riders in the Motphran area, citing that their operations are still considered illegal by the government.
Speaking to reporters, Ride to Serve Shillong leader Bah K. Nongkynrih said the group has been demanding Individual Permits from the Transport Department since 2023 but alleged that the government has failed to act despite repeated assurances. “We have been asking the state government since 2023 to grant Individual Permits, but till today the government has only given assurances without implementing anything. Instead, there are attempts to force us to work under aggregators and companies, but we want to operate independently to earn our livelihood,” he said.
He further stated that the government had informed them that the Meghalaya Motor Vehicle Rules were still being framed, but alleged that even after three years the rules have not yet been finalised. “They say they are still following guidelines from the central government, but till now nothing concrete has been done,” he added.
Bah Nongkynrih also criticised the introduction of the Meghalaya Motor Rental Scheme, claiming that it was not what the bike taxi riders had demanded. “When we approach the government, they offer the Meghalaya Motor Rental Scheme. We do not know who demanded this scheme because what we asked for was Individual Permits. The rental scheme is mainly meant for business operators,” he said. He further claimed that more than a thousand bike taxi riders in Shillong are willing to pay taxes to the government if Individual Permits are granted to them.
The riders have urged the state government to recognise independent bike taxi operators and provide a legal framework that would allow them to operate without being compelled to join aggregator companies.
