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Friday, March 29, 2024

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Friday, March 29, 2024

Shillong citizens demand revision of taxi fares

Though many people have raised concern over the steep increase in fares, the government is least bothered on the matter and allows taxi drivers to charge exorbitant rates at their will.

Shankar Kumar Turha

SHILLONG:

Post the lockdown, taxi fares have more than doubled in Shillong, leaving the general public financially stressed. The steep rise in fares was noticed immediately after the lockdown when the government had imposed the odd-even formula for commercial vehicles plying in the city.

Though many people have raised concern over the steep increase in fares, the government is least bothered on the matter and allows taxi drivers to charge exorbitant rates at their will. There are no clear-cut instructions from the government on the applicability of rates in different routes.

Speaking to The Meghalayan, the commoners expressed dissatisfaction over the rates, stating that they are being looted and the government has remained silent on the issue. “The taxi fares are unreasonably high. It’s Rs 30 and passengers don’t get enough space to sit behind as they’ve started taking four people on the back seat.  The cab drivers are taking advantage of the situation and also it is very difficult to get a taxi in the evening,” said a concerned teacher.

While some raised concern over the adamant attitude of the drivers, some said that the the odd-even formula, and with seating capacity slashed to half, made the drivers charge double the pre-covid times rate, which was arguably justified given the smaller number of passengers per vehicle. But, as the government eased restrictions and allowed taxis to ply with full capacity, it was expected that the fares would go down to pre-lockdown times, or perhaps increased only nominally.

Another concerned citizen on the condition of anonymity said that there are no clear-cut instructions on the booking charge, and drivers charge as per their wish without specifying the basis or even denying to show the rate sheet issued by the government when asked. The person also raised the issue of tourist being exploited at times as they are not aware of the fares in Shillong city.

Similarly, a resident of Laban, said that now the drivers charge Rs 30 from Last Stop to Rhino, which was earlier Rs 10 or Rs 20.

When contacted, District Transport Officer and Secretary R.T.A., Shillong, D. Lamin, informed that such complaints have been received by the department multiple times, however, the public have not come up with any evidence on such issues. He said the department is ready to take complaints on over capacity, as the double rate is conditioned upon the seating capacity.

“If the drivers are taking four passengers behind and two in front, the said vehicle registration number and the route can be forwarded to the District Transport Office (DTO),” Lamin said, adding that the department is open to looking at such issues.

Notably, people who paid Rs 20 from Nongrim Hills to Police Bazar just before the lockdown, i.e., December 2019, now have to shell out Rs 50 for the same distance and route, which is a 150 per cent rise.

Though the government was planning revise taxi fares just before the lockdown, but not doubling it altogether, and the revision could have been done bringing in all the stakeholders and public in the loop, so that the fares could have been proportionate to what the public agreed to mutually.

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