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Two-wheeler taxi drivers seen at Razhu point in Kohima, on Wednesday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov.13 (EMN): The state government's ceiling on issuance of two-wheeler taxi permit has put the drivers in Kohima in a state of conundrum.
Transport department had issued a notification in August this year about the limit in the number of permits to be issued to two-wheeler taxis in Nagaland, which was reiterated again on October 30. The authorities also stated that both the driver and the pillion rider should wear a uniform colour code of yellow helmet.
to
Eastern Mirror, a two-wheeler taxi driver said, “We are able to make our living with this, riding on the streets after the cabinet approved (the service). However, setting limits on the number of issue of permits has made us worried; if we don’t get the permit, what would we do?”
“With the earning I made daily, I could meet my expenses and contribute something to my family. I hope the government will understand the situation and absorb the existing riders with our association pursuing the matter,” said another driver.
However, a two-wheeler taxi driver expressed hope that the state government would look into the issue. “Meeting our daily ends from depending on others is a happy thing. I am happy with the approval of the two-wheeler taxi service by our Nagaland government and I hope the government will be a people-centric and understand the story of survival,” he said.
The officials of the Nagaland Two Wheeler Taxi Association (NTWTA) on Wednesday informed that there are 170 registered drivers, including two females in Kohima who are helping the public beat traffic woes through their service. They revealed that more drivers are in line seeking registration.
The officials maintained that the drivers are unemployed youths from different backgrounds but eager to make their living by providing service to the public.
“To a certain level, the existing riders (drivers) are feasible for the infrastructure and we hope that our service will be facilitated by the government,” an official of NTWTA said.
When asked on the delay in issuing of taxi permit, the officials claimed that not a single permit has been issued till date. However, they maintained that they won’t go against the government but coordinate instead and expressed hope that ‘it (the government) will be prompt and pro-active for the people.’
It may be mentioned that the state’s Transport department had set a ceiling on two-wheeler taxi permit for different towns in the state with Kohima and Dimapur getting the maximum share of 100 permits, 75 for Mokokchung, and 50 each for Tuensang, Mon, Zunheboto, Wokha and Phek.
An official from the government authority informed
that the permits for two-wheeler taxi will not be issued at one go but on phase-wise manner.
The transport authority is supposed to fix the fare for two-wheeler taxis but the drivers are currently charging the rate fixed by NTWTA.
