The East Jaintia Taxi’s Owner Driver Association (EJTODA) had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, the District Transport Officer (DTO) and the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) East Jaintia Hills District on April 1, to discussed challenges faced by taxi owners and drivers due to rising illegal taxi operators in the district, along with a request to revise taxi fares.
As a reminder, the association had previously met DTO Vikram Rai Ryngkhlem on March 27, to raise the same concerns.
EJTODA President Shining Siangshai said that after submitting their complaint, the Deputy Commissioner, he assured them that checks on the issues raised would begin within the next one to two weeks. The president and association members are pleased that their concerns have been heard.
The request to revise taxi fares has not yet been approve, rates remain unchanged, varying only by location. Strict action will be taken against vehicles without valid documents to operate as local taxis, including private vehicles doubling as taxis. The president warned that licensed vehicles could face difficulties if the administration takes this lightly. Enforcement remains inadequate in the district, and the association urged officials to involve the police for checking illegal operators.
The association has issued stickers for members with valid documents, vehicles without them are considered illegal. They requested the Deputy Commissioner to enforce this as well.
On traffic jams in the district headquarters and nearby villages, the administration noted limited enforcement manpower. The association urged the government to address the shortage of enforcement and police personnel in East Jaintia Hills District. Locals often blame local taxis for jams, but the association rejects this, their vehicles are mobile and don’t park in one spot, unlike private vehicles that linger on roads, head to markets, or block emergencies like ambulances.