GUWAHATI, Oct 27 - The coordination committee of the cab operators of Assam is undertaking a road blockade programme along the State�s borders on October 29 in protest against the neighbouring states� refusal to allow incommercial passenger vehicles from Assam, like app-based taxis, citing the COVID-19 situation.�
The protests will be staged at every entry gate of Assam, preventing vehicles from other Northeastern states from entering the State.
The committee, formed today at a meeting, includes the All Assam Cab Operators� Union, All India Road Transport Workers� Federation, All Guwahati Tourist Taxi Drivers� Union, Greater Guwahati Tourist Taxi Association, All Guwahati Cab Drivers� Union and Indica Tourist Taxi Drivers� Association, among others.
The president of the All Assam Cab Operators� Union, Ismail Ali said, �The neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and others have put restrictions on the vehicles from Assam to enter their respective states. All vehicles mandatorily have to undergo COVID-19 testing at the entry points on payment of Rs 500 and the tests have been done on daily basis. The taxi drivers who take passengers regularly are also required to undergo the test every time they cross the border.�
�When we go to Shillong, the taxis are halted at Byrnihat. It takes six to eight hours to get the report. The passengers as well have to undergo the test. The number of passengers is already low and this rule has added to our woes,� he added.
�However, there is no such rule for the vehicles entering Assam,� he further said.
Different cab associations had met Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary earlier this month to raise the issue in the presence of the Transport Commissioner and other officials.�
�Although an assurance was given immediately during the meeting, no action has been initiated as yet,� Ali said.
The taxi associations are also protesting against the cutting-off of incentives by the app-based service providers Ola and Uber.
