Guwahati, September 18 (IANS) A deadlock between taxi operators of Assam and Meghalaya on Thursday rapidly increased, disrupting the border -crossing trip and leaving hundreds of passengers, including tourists, trapped in Jobat, major entry point between two northeastern states.
The line erupted earlier this week after the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) began to prevent Assam-approved vehicles from entering Shillong and other places.
The association stated that the uncontrolled flow of Assam-based CABS was cutting the earnings of local drivers and the state government demanded implementation of a mutual transport agreement with a new tourism transport policy.
In vengeance, Assam’s transport unions started a counter-agitation, in which Meghalaya-regulated taxis were barred from taking passengers at Guwahati railway station and Lokpriya Gopinath Boardolyo International Airport.
On Thursday, the protest spread to Jorabat, which creates a logs on the interstate border and severely affects the commuter movement.
The conflict took a political turn when former Education Minister of Meghalaya Rakkam A. Sangma’s vehicle was stopped by protesters.
He was eventually rescued through blockade by Assam police personnel.
Warning that the unrest could cripping the tourism sector, former Tourism Minister of Meghalaya Paul Lyngdoh appealed to AKMTTA to interact directly with his Assam counterparts.
“Tourism is the backbone of the economy of Meghalaya, and long -term blockade will damage livelihood on both sides,” he said.
The Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum and the state government also expressed concern, which causes precautions that the deadlock threatens to derail the upcoming tourism season.
Meanwhile, Assam’s taxi unions have tightened their stance, if there is a warning of full boycott of Meghalaya-regional vehicles when the ban is maintained.
A union leader said, “We will intensify our opposition until the operating rights are equal,” a Sangh leader said.
The spilling dispute has thrown the journey plan in anarchy, forcing many tourist groups to cancel their visits.
With the boiling and no success in the sight, stakeholders fear that the deadlock may be strict in crisis for a long time unless the two state governments intervene in the broker rapidly.
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TDR/KHz