SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: A major transport standoff looms as the Motor Parivan Sewakarmi Sanmilita Mancha, Assam — an umbrella body representing tourist taxis (Dzire, Tata Sumo, Innova, Travellers), buses, trucks and petroleum tanker operators — has declared a Total Non-Cooperation from 5 AM on September 18, 2025. The move is a direct protest against the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association’s (AKMTTA) decision to block Assam-registered tourist vehicles from entering Meghalaya’s tourist spots.
The Assam body, led by President Kaushik Bhuyan and Secretary Anirban Goswami, has slammed the AKMTTA’s demands as “baseless,” stressing that Assam vehicles hold valid interstate and all-India permits and have long contributed revenue to Meghalaya’s tourism and economy. They revealed that the Meghalaya government was already alerted on September 9 and 15, but during AKMTTA’s strike on September 16, Assam vehicles were still stopped and tourists harassed on their way to destinations.
The Mancha has warned that unless the issue is resolved swiftly, Assam operators will completely withdraw services to Meghalaya, refusing to send tourist vehicles to Shillong or other parts of the state. Such a move, it cautioned, will severely impact the tourism industry, hurting hotels, restaurants, shops, fuel outlets, transport hubs, and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on visitors.
Already, several bookings have been cancelled due to uncertainty, raising concerns that prolonged blockades will not only reduce tourist inflow but also tarnish Meghalaya’s image globally as a tourist-friendly state. The clash between the two transport bodies has now escalated into a wider concern for the future of Northeast India’s tourism economy.
#AssamVsMeghalaya #TaxiBan #TourismCrisis #NortheastIndia #MeghalayaTourism #AssamTransport #TravelAlert #TouristTaxi #HospitalityCrisis #SustainableTourism
