Correspondent
SHILLONG, SEP 8: The Assam and Meghalaya governments on Tuesday resolved the standoff between tourist taxi associations from both states, with authorities assuring seamless
movement of interstate cabs and promising to address concerns over parking, toilet facilities, and police checks.
The mutual agreement was reached during a joint coordination meeting held in Shillong between state officials and tourist taxi associations from Assam and Meghalaya.
The meeting was co-chaired by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dhar said that the governments of Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to work together to resolve the difficulties faced by tourist vehicle drivers and to ensure the seamless movement of interstate cabs without disrupting commuters.
He said a sub-committee headed by the transport Commissioners of both states would meet as and when required to address issues faced by tourist vehicle drivers.
During the meeting, Dhar said that the Assam government has assured tourist taxi associations from Meghalaya that it will seriously act on their key issues, which include airport parking facilities, restrooms, and difficulties arising from checks conducted by the Assam Police.
Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, Assam Minister Atul Bora said that the friendship between Assam and Meghalaya is a relationship that has existed for decades, and that both states want to continue and strengthen this relationship.
Last month, the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) and the All Shillong Tourist Taxi Association (ASTA) boycotted travel into Assam and banned Assam-registered tourist vehicles from entering Meghalaya, following the alleged harassment of drivers in the neighbouring state after the August 19 violence in Shillong.