Tourist taxis get space

SHILLONG, SEPT 4: In compliance with the Meghalaya high court order, the State government has allotted parking space to the Meghalaya Tourist Transporters Association (MTTA) at the parking lot of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) in Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) area.

“The transport department and the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has allotted parking space for the tourist vehicles of the MTTA to be parked in the municipal parking lot opposite SBI Shillong branch,” MTTA general secretary Diganta Nath told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.

Nath said the letters from the two government departments came after an order issued by the Meghalaya high court on March following a petition filed by the association.  He said, “According to the board, five vehicles of the association are allowed to park in the parking space demarcated for them on rotation subjected to payment of parking fees.”.

Nath informed that only diesel driven vehicles will be allowed to park in the space allotted. According to him, a total of 1175 tourist taxis (diesel) are under the MTTA which are at present parked at Polo.

For the past three years, the association has been demanding from the state government to provide a permanent parking lot after the latter decided to shift the tourist vehicles from Police Bazaar to Polo parking lot.

“The transport department authority however had maintained that at present there is no space to allot to the association vehicles as permanent stand in Police Bazaar area,” Nath informed while expressing that the association welcomes and honor the decision of the government.

Replying to an allegation, Nath said, “We want the people to know that the space was provided to us as per order of the government and that we have not just barged in without any permission.” He also informed that the association would inaugurate the parking space on Monday next.

Nath informed that the association has also decided to hike the passenger fare from Rs 391 to Rs 400 after the state government failed to revise the fare for more than 3 years beside hike in petroleum products.  According to him, the tourist taxis till today are still implementing the government rate which was issued since 2011.- By Our Reporter