Assam Taxis Resume Meghalaya Services After Three-Day Blockade

Assam-registered tourist taxis resumed services into Meghalaya on August 24 after a blockade at Umiam was temporarily lifted. The disruption followed a three-day blockade of the Jorabat stretch connecting the two states, organized by the Assam State Drivers’ Union (ASDU) in response to alleged attacks on Assamese cab drivers in Shillong.

The agitation ended after talks between Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. Despite the official end of the blockade, travel remained disrupted for several days as Assam-registered taxis avoided entering Meghalaya due to safety concerns and reports that Meghalaya taxi associations were turning them back at Barapani. Simultaneously, Meghalaya-registered cabs reportedly refused to enter Assam.

While the temporary opening of the route restores travel from Guwahati toward Shillong, the underlying dispute between taxi operators remains unresolved. The standoff has been marked by violence, resulting in 15 FIRs and the identification of five masked individuals involved in clashes on August 19. ASDU leadership previously stated that drivers would only resume travel after receiving a formal green signal and assurances that passengers and drivers would not face harassment.