SHILLONG, May 27: A group of Rapido riders on Tuesday met the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) at the District Transport Office in Lower Lachumiere seeking clarification over the legality and future of app-based bike taxi services in Meghalaya.
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| Rapido riders gather outside the District Transport Office in Lower Lachumiere, Shillong, after meeting transport officials over uncertainty surrounding app-based bike taxi operations in Meghalaya. |
The meeting comes amid growing uncertainty following the Meghalaya Transport Department’s recent reiteration that no bike taxi aggregator would be allowed to operate in the state without obtaining necessary approvals from the government.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, one of the riders said the group approached transport officials to better understand the legal requirements and possible course of action for those currently engaged in online bike taxi services through app-based platforms.
According to the riders, they sought information on whether direct permits could be obtained from the District Transport Office to continue operations legally. However, they were reportedly informed that any such decision would have to be taken at the government level and not by local transport authorities.
The rider stated that the group would now hold internal discussions among themselves as well as with conventional offline bike taxi operators before taking any further step regarding their operations.
“We need to sit together and resolve the confusion first. We also have to meet the offline operators because both sides need to arrive at a common understanding. Once we have taken a decision, we will inform the media,” the rider said.
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The riders maintained that app-based bike taxi services have been helping commuters, particularly in Shillong where traffic congestion and transportation issues remain a major concern. They argued that the services offer faster and more convenient travel options for the public, especially during peak hours.
The riders also raised concerns regarding deductions made by app-based aggregators from their earnings. They claimed that riders regularly pay charges and commissions to the platforms, but were informed during the meeting that the Meghalaya government does not receive any share from those collections.
The Transport Department has recently intensified scrutiny of unauthorised bike taxi operations in the state, maintaining that any aggregator platform must obtain proper government approval before commencing services in Meghalaya.
