Tourist Transporter Association of Assam opposes call to ban Assam registered vehicles in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 8, 2025

The Tourist Transporter Association of Assam (TTAA) has strongly opposed a demand by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA), led by Balajied Jyrwa, which has announced plans to launch a strike from September 16, 2025, restricting Assam-registered tourist vehicles from operating in Meghalaya’s popular destinations.

In a statement, TTAA warned that such a move could severely disrupt the tourism industry across the Northeast, describing the demand as “unjustified and selfish.” The association pointed out that Assam-based tourist vehicles hold valid inter-state and all-India permits, including three-state permits covering Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, and contribute significantly to Meghalaya’s revenue.

TTAA outlined several concerns, including the potential for regional instability, reciprocal blockades, and legal violations. It cautioned that if Meghalaya-based associations restrict Assam vehicles, Assam’s transport bodies may retaliate by barring Meghalaya vehicles from operating at Guwahati airport, railway stations, and even blocking essential service vehicles such as food supply trucks and fuel tankers from entering Meghalaya.

The association also stressed that tourism is an interconnected sector across the Northeast, and disruption in one state could destabilize the entire regional circuit. “Tourism thrives on peace, cooperation, and mutual respect—any form of hostility threatens not just business, but regional harmony,” TTAA said, citing the negative global impact of recent disruptions in Jammu & Kashmir as a warning.

Responding to AKMTTA’s demand to replicate Sikkim’s model of restricting outside vehicles, TTAA argued that Sikkim’s case is unique due to Article 371F of the Constitution and its geopolitical position as a border state. It said the same framework cannot be applied to Meghalaya, which must instead adopt an inclusive tourism policy that encourages cooperation.

The statement further noted that many hoteliers in Meghalaya have invested heavily in promoting tourism, building infrastructure, and creating employment opportunities. A ban on Assam-registered cabs, it said, would collapse Meghalaya’s tourism season, damage its reputation as a welcoming destination, and undo years of investment and goodwill.

Tourism stakeholders from Assam warned that flight fares to the Northeast are already among the highest in the country, and additional barriers could drive tourists to other destinations like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, or even international locations.

“Tourism is a sensitive industry. Once affected, it takes years to recover. We must safeguard and nurture it for the benefit of the entire region,” TTAA stated, urging the Meghalaya government not to take unilateral decisions that could harm the sector.