TSUD serves 7-day deadline on State govt
Expressing strong resentment over the high cost of public transport service in Dimapur, the Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) has served a seven-day deadline on the state government to review the rates and warned that failure to do so would compel it to launch different forms of democratic protest, starting with wearing ‘black badge’.
Addressing media persons here at Tenyimi Complex Dimapur, TSUD president RukewezoWetsah said that the union has sent a representation addressed to the chief minister for reviewing rates of public transportation. TSUD pointed out that when relaxations were made for commercial, social and religious activities, the same be also applied to the transport system.
Wetsah said students and average citizens, who do not own vehicles but depend on public transport, were the most affected. With life returning to normal post-COVID lockdown, he said that it was high time that the SOPs put in place for public transport system as was being done in Meghalaya where transportation rates were reduced.
Wetsah also mentioned that TSUD had also written to the deputy commissioner Dimapur regarding the same, but that there was no response.
He said TSUD also reached out to the Dimapur District Auto Driver’s Union (DDADU) but was informed by the latter that they had to abide by the order of the higher authorities and not in a position to alter the SOPs and bring down the rates. The TSUD president cautioned that if there was no positive response within seven days, the union along with all its constituent units, would be forced to resort to various forms of democratic protest. Wetsah also urged upon all the likeminded citizens and organisations to extend support for a genuine cause.
It may be recalled that the Regional Transport Authority Dimapur in September 2020 revised the taxi and autorickshaw fares after considering the restrictions on the number of passengers as per the new standard operating procedures (SOP).