SHILLONG : Licensed two-wheeler commercial permit holders in Meghalaya have urged the East Khasi Hills administration to take strict action against illegal bike taxi operators allegedly running services in Shillong without valid permits and approvals.
In a letter submitted to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah, who also serves as Chairman of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the Meghalaya Two-Wheeler Commercial Permit Holder group raised concerns over the growing number of unlicensed bike taxi operators in the city.
According to the group, several individuals are operating bike taxi services without obtaining the necessary permits and clearances from the concerned authorities.
“There are many individuals operating as bike taxi service providers without obtaining the necessary permit and approval from the concerned department,” the group stated in its complaint.
The permit holders alleged that such operations violate provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as well as the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020.
Apart from causing financial losses to the state government, the group warned that illegal bike taxi operations pose serious safety risks to passengers due to the lack of police verification, commercial insurance and other mandatory regulatory compliances.
The group also said that legal permit holders who have complied with all rules and regulations are now facing threats to their livelihood because of unauthorized operators.
Calling the issue a “direct violation to our livelihood,” the group urged the district administration to intensify enforcement against illegal operators.
Among its key demands, the group sought strict action against individuals operating without valid permits and called for deployment of additional enforcement personnel to monitor such activities.
The permit holders also demanded designated parking spaces for licensed operators in busy areas including Khyndailad, Iewduh and other major market locations in Shillong.