Shillong, Oct 12: The state government will set up a modern transit hub at Umtyngar.
The intention is to provide more business opportunities for local tourist taxi operators.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of transport Sniawbhalang Dhar chaired a meeting with all tourism stakeholders, on Monday ( Oct 11).
He told reporters that the Transport Department will develop the Umtyngar site as a model facility.
Tourist taxi associations, hotel industry and homestay associations, tour guides, and senior officials of the Tourism Department, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, attended the meeting.
“Today we had a very important, fruitful and positive meeting. We discussed this tourist issue which has been there for the last few years.
“We received a request from the tourist taxi association, so we have decided we will put a very good parking lot with full civic amenities somewhere around the Umtyngar area along with a food court, cafe, toilet. It will become just like a tourist spot in the form of dropping and picking up points. We have given the okay,” he said.
Dhar said the government will first implement the Umtyngar project before expanding to other locations.
The land has been proposed by the community free of cost and will be developed by the Transport Department.
IDhar said he wanted hotels and homestays to prioritize local taxis.
“They have formed a committee, which is the first committee with the tourist associations from the hotel industries, homestay and the tour guides. They will work out in such a manner that maximum capacity and maximum possibility even from the hotels they will use our local taxis,” he said.
According to Dhar, the tourism is rebounding.
“For the last few days it had become a bit low but now it has started picking up like before, especially with today’s meeting it will boost again.”
On safety measures, Dhar said police will provide 24×7 monitoring on the Sohra tourist circuit and CCTV cameras will be installed at key locations, including homestays.
