SHILLONG : Inter-state taxi services between Assam and Meghalaya have been disrupted following the violence during Wednesday’s KSU rally in Shillong, leaving some tourists and commuters unable to travel between the two states.
Meghalaya-registered tourist vehicles have reportedly stopped operating on inter-state routes, while Assam-registered cabs have faced restrictions on entering Meghalaya.
The disruption developed after Assam-based transport operators reacted to attacks on Assam-registered vehicles during Wednesday’s unrest in Shillong. Meghalaya vehicles were subsequently stopped at parts of the Assam-Meghalaya border, with passengers reportedly asked to leave their vehicles and continue their journey in locally available cabs.
The situation later turned into a wider standoff involving taxi operators from both states. Meghalaya transport operators also began restricting Assam-registered commercial vehicles from travelling towards Shillong.
The disruption has affected tourists as well as daily commuters who depend on the Guwahati-Shillong route.
Tourists travelling to Shillong have reportedly faced difficulties finding vehicles to continue their journey, while passengers travelling towards Assam have also been affected by restrictions on inter-state taxis.
The developments have also raised concerns within Meghalaya’s tourism sector, which depends heavily on visitors arriving through Assam and the Guwahati-Shillong corridor.
The transport disruption follows a series of incidents after Wednesday’s KSU black-flag bike rally, during which several vehicles were damaged in Shillong, including vehicles carrying Assam registration numbers.
The situation prompted intervention by authorities from both states, with officials working to prevent the transport restrictions from developing into a wider confrontation.
Meghalaya and Assam authorities have been engaging to restore normal movement along the interstate route, while the situation involving commercial vehicles remains sensitive.
