Tourist taxi clash: Assam drivers block Meghalaya taxis in response to entry ban

A major standoff erupted on Thursday at Jorabat, the border town between Assam and Meghalaya, when hundreds of Assam-based tourist vehicle drivers blocked cabs and larger tourist vehicles coming from Meghalaya.

The blockade was a response to restrictions imposed by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA), which began preventing Assam-registered commercial vehicles from entering Meghalaya since September 16.

Even Meghalaya’s former education minister and NPP legislator, Rakkam A Sangma, was stopped from entering Assam. He later continued his journey to Garo Hills with an Assam Police escort, the TOI reported.

Protest by Assam taxi associations

The dispute has been persisting for a couple of months but escalated after the AKMTTA announced on September 3 that Assam-registered tourist taxis would not be allowed inside Meghalaya from September 16.

The association even forced passengers to get down from Assam vehicles mid-journey and continue their trips in local Meghalaya taxis. This angered Assam’s drivers, who said their livelihoods were being snatched away.

“Under the banner of the Motor Parivahan Sewakormi Sanmilita Manch, the apex body of transport workers, they blocked all vehicles, both commercial and private, at Jorabat on Thursday. Lakhs of families in Assam depend on these tourist vehicles. Such unlawful restrictions have created frustration and financial pressure at every level,” TOI quoted Robindra Kumar Dutta, president of the Greater Guwahati Tourist Taxi Association, as saying.

Governments step in

Officials from both Assam and Meghalaya rushed to the spot after the blockade caused chaos at the border. They assured the protesting drivers that the matter would be handled legally and requested two days to resolve it.

On this assurance, the protesters agreed to withdraw their blockade temporarily, though they warned that the situation could escalate if no solution was found soon.

The Meghalaya taxi association has defended its move, claiming that Assam vehicles should only be allowed to drop passengers at hubs like Shillong. From there, visitors would need to use local Meghalaya tourist taxis to reach popular destinations. The association argued that this policy was essential to protect the livelihoods of local drivers and promote sustainable tourism within the state.