Shillong: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement is demanding a ban on out-of-state tourist vehicles at Meghalaya attractions. They want to protect local drivers. The organization has pushed this agenda since 2017 without success.
Thomas Passah, the working president of KHNAM, claims the government ignored previous directives. On January 10, 2018, the Transport Department told the Commissioner of Transport to gather data from Assam, Sikkim, and other states. Officials then instructed District Transport Officers to stop out-of-state vehicles from operating locally. That effort stalled after the government changed.
Passah is now pushing for a drop-point system. Tourists arriving in outside vehicles would stop at designated hubs. Local drivers would take over for the rest of the trip. Passah stated, "The arrangement could also make tourist transportation more organised and convenient for visitors while creating greater employment opportunities for local residents."
KHNAM insists this move will help local operators gain from the expanding tourism sector. They have asked the current administration to revisit the 2018 communication and enforce new, stricter rules immediately.
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