Two-wheeler taxi riders in Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 6
Two- wheeler taxi riders in Kohima today reiterated their plea to the state government to legalize two- wheeler taxi service in the state capital Kohima.
Addressing a press conference here today, Chumbem B Yanthan, a 2 wheel taxi rider, said that after analyzing the traffic jam problem and the potential for self employment and also to open ways for local youths to engage in income generation job, a proposal to legalize two-wheeler taxi service was submitted to the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kohima on July 7, 2018.
“The legalization of two-wheeler taxi service in Kohima and Nagaland as a whole could create thousands of jobs for the youths without any expenditure from the government’s budget. It’s purely an individual’s will to buy a two-wheeler and get it registered with the government. The government could initiate personality and basic skill training in mass for quality service. In fact legalizing two-wheeler taxi service could add revenue to the Nagaland State Transport Department,” the 13 riders stated.
Yanthan said that there is no particular portion under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 that mentions about two-wheeler taxi regulatory guidelines; however section 72 and 73 of the MVA provides competency to the states to issue stage carriage permit after scrutinizing feasibility and applicability.
He stated that the Nagaland State Transport (NST) authorities accepted the proposal and assured to explore possibilities.
The file reached from one table to another being scrutinized by the officials under the concerned department.
Based on the submitted proposal and guideline secured from the Mizoram State Transport Department, a regulatory guideline for two-wheeler taxis in Nagaland had been drafted out by the Nagaland State Transport officials, he stated.
The proposal to legalize two-wheeler taxi service in Kohima and Nagaland as a whole was also approved by the Minister of the concerned department. Subsequently, the department drafted a taxation chart for two-wheeler taxis (also contributing to the state revenue). After receiving clearance from the Finance Department regarding the taxation, the department was ready to notify through government gazette. A draft of the notification was even witnessed by the applicant but no official declaration was announced.
It was found out that the NST department could not notify the same as there is no particular section of the MVA, 1988 that deals with two-wheeler taxis.
“The competency provided to a state under section 72 and 73 of the MVA, 1988 was hence deliberately neglected. On the 16th of April, 2019 (after 9 months of pursuing the proposal) it was verbally communicated that the file regarding legalization of two-wheeler taxi service had been quashed,” the 13 riders stated.
They added that the MVA, 1988 or any act could be amended, stating that the act does not in any way term two-wheeler taxis as illegal.
With the support of the state government, there is absolute possibility to draft a regulatory guideline and implement it based on section 72 and 73, MVA, 1988, they stated.
However, they stated “since the Nagaland State Transport is not interested to take up the matter seriously and implement the two-wheeler taxi service, it had reached to a point where the government could term it illegal and ban the service that had been flourishing and enabling faster movement of citizens in Kohima town in the past few months.”
Even as the NST department had quashed the proposal, the group of 13 private two-wheeler taxi riders have sought public support and urged the government to legalize their service.
Two-wheeler taxi service fares range from Rs. 50 to Rs. 120 depending on the distance travelled. For safety measures, they provide helmets to passengers and raincoats. They are also planning to introduce uniforms soon for proper identification.
