With an aim to help school and college-going students, officer-goers and individuals to reach their destinations on time, reduce transportation cost and provide opportunities for unemployed youth to generate income, the State cabinet has approved two-wheeler taxi service in Nagaland.
Highly-placed sources informed Nagaland Post that the cabinet during its meeting on July 28 observed that in recent years the State had been experiencing acute traffic congestions due to narrow roads and drastic increase in the number of vehicles, thereby affecting smooth mobility, loss of time and adversely affecting daily life.
According to a cabinet memo, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of the districts would be the permit issuing authority for two-wheeler taxis in their respective districts with a limit. Also, to be eligible for registration as a taxi, the two wheeler must be brand new and have insurance cover for at least third party risks at all time as per provision of Sec. 146 (1) of the MVA 1988.
The cabinet memo further makes it clear that permits would be only issued to bona fide unemployed indigenous inhabitants of the State and, except for the person in whose name the permit is registered, others would not be allowed to drive or hire out to somebody.
Other conditions include that the male rider would be allowed to carry both male and female passengers, while a female rider would be allowed to carry only female passengers.
The routes and fares would be notified and fixed by RTA and the permit could be cancelled if any of the terms and conditions were found to have been violated. Transport & Civil Aviation, Railways and Land Resources minister P Paiwang Konyak will officially launch the two-wheeler taxi after August 15.
Earlier, Kohima Two Wheeler Taxi Association (TWTA) had submitted a representation to the State government, appealing to legalise two-wheeler taxi service in Nagaland and help local youth pursue their livelihood. Signed by its president Chumben B Yanthan and general secretary Kenei Miacheo, the memorandum mentioned that TWTA had resolved to work ethically and efficiently for welfare of the two-wheeler taxi riders and provide safe and quality transportation service to the people.