HT Bureau
SHILLONG, July 18: Meghalaya government has no plans to ban tourist vehicles from Assam from entering Meghalaya, said state tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday.
“There are visitors from Meghalaya touring Assam and the government wants to keep a balance as far as the entry of the tourist vehicles entering Meghalaya is concerned,” said the minister while speaking to reporters.
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The minister held a meeting with the transport department regarding the demand by the tourist taxi drivers association to ban tourist vehicles from Assam ferrying tourists to tourist spots in Meghalaya.
He further said a meeting will be called with all the stakeholders to discuss the issue further.
Last week, All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association submitted a memorandum to Meghalaya government seeking ban on the tourist vehicles from Assam.
However, this evoked criticism among various Tourist Cab Operators’ Unions of Assam.
The tourism minister admitted that Meghalaya is considering Assam as the entry point due to its airport and railway station, as Meghalaya is unable to risk the services provided by vehicles traveling to Assam and Meghalayans visiting Assam for tourism, health, or education purposes. All of these factors have significant implications.
Lyngdoh informed that there are legal issues to ban any tourist vehicle from ferrying tourists anywhere, since they have tourist permits for their vehicles.
Lyngdoh said that in the next 10-12 days he will invite all the tourists Taxi Associations in the state for a general meeting to discuss the demands of the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association.
