Meghalaya Govt to regulate operation of two-wheelers as taxi aggregators

SHILLONG, JUNE 20: The state government is all set to regulate the taxi aggregators operating in the state.

This comes after the state capital has witnessed the growing dependence of the public on two-wheelers as a means of transportation.

However, the majority of these two-wheelers, which are popularly known to people as “Rapido”, are operating as taxi aggregators without obtaining any licenses from the competent authority.

When asked about the steps taken by the government to regulate this new public service provider, Commissioner & Secretary in-charge Transport E Kharmalki told reporters on Tuesday that the state government will very soon notify the permit tax, road tax and passenger fares to be charged by the taxi aggregators.

He said the Ministry of Road Transport had issued a statutory order dated June, 2021 which had notified that two-wheelers can be considered as taxi aggregators. Based on this, the state transport department had accordingly floated the advertisement inviting interested parties to register with the department and obtain a license to operate as taxi aggregators.

“So far, only one applicant by the name of Jet 24×7 had got the license to operate as a taxi aggregator in the state. However, they are yet to operate because the state government has to notify the permit tax, road tax and passenger fares,” Kharmalki said.

When asked, the Commissioner & Secretary in-charge Transport said, “The permit tax, road tax and fares to be charged by the taxi aggregators will soon be placed before the State Cabinet for its approval.”

According to him, the government is making all efforts to speed up the matter to regulate the operation of the taxi aggregators in the state.

By Our Reporters