Guwahati: Tourist and commercial vehicles from Assam and Meghalaya will continue to operate normally between the two states until September 10, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Sunday after discussions with tourist taxi associations.
Dhar said another round of talks with representatives from Assam would be held after September 10 to work towards a long-term arrangement for uninterrupted movement of vehicles between the neighbouring states.
The meeting followed Dhar’s discussions with Assam Border Protection Minister Atul Bora in Guwahati on Saturday, amid tensions over violence during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) protest rally in Shillong. Assam-registered vehicles were allegedly targeted and vandalised during the incident, with several tourists sustaining injuries.
Under the understanding reached on Sunday, tourist and commercial vehicles from both states will be allowed to cross the Assam-Meghalaya border and operate without obstruction. Meghalaya-registered tourist taxis will be allowed to operate in Assam, while Assam-based commercial and tourist vehicles will be allowed to enter and operate in Meghalaya.
The two sides also agreed that vehicle movement should take place without violence, intimidation or other untoward incidents.
The agreement came amid reports of vehicles being stopped at Barapani. Several videos circulating on social media showed people claiming that Assam-registered commercial and tourist vehicles were still being prevented from entering Meghalaya.
The disruptions in vehicle movement followed past few days of tension and affected tourists, passengers and drivers travelling between the two states, particularly along the Guwahati-Shillong route.
The temporary arrangement until September 10 is expected to provide time for the two sides to hold further discussions on a mechanism for the free and peaceful movement of commercial and tourist vehicles.