Shillong cabbies seek parking space

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 24: Shillong cabbies under the banner of the East Khasi Hills Taxi Welfare Association (EKHTWA) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Meghalaya Minister of Transport HDR Lyngdoh seeking provision of parking spaces in Shillong town.

They even threatened to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the court if the State government fails to do so.

The EKHTWA said that absence of parking spaces had restrained them from plying on May 27, the day when the proscribed HNLC had called a bandh. They reiterated that parking yards are beneficial to the taxis, commuters and the government in terms of revenue.  

Recently, the owners of the local taxis were served with a showcause notice by the Regiol Transport Authority (RTA). EKHTWA general secretary W. Jyrwa told newsmen on Wednesday, "We have mentioned in our replies that our drivers were forced to retreat to the base on the day of the bandh because there are no desigted parking yards".

"Pointing out the problem, we have submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Transport also mentioning the areas where the government can create desigted parking yards for the local cabs of Shillong," stated Jyrwa.

There are 16 vital points mentioned and proposed by the cabbies and all located within the vicinity of the hill station. However, the EKHTWA was more vociferous in questioning the State government for failing to retrieve the land at Harijan colony by rehabilitating the present occupants in the place that have been constructed for them in two to three different locations. Jyrwa felt that the re-occupation of the land illegally occupied can be converted into a massive parking yard. The functiories of the EKHTWA opined that regaining the inhabited land at Harijan colony will add to the cleanliness and ease congestion in the heart of the city.