Shillong | The standoff between tourist taxi associations of Meghalaya and Assam has been resolved, with both states agreeing to ensure hassle-free movement of tourist vehicles and address concerns over parking, toilet facilities and police checks.

The agreement was reached at a joint meeting in Shillong on Tuesday attended by seven tourist taxi associations from Assam and five from Meghalaya. The meeting was jointly chaired by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora.

Dhar said the meeting was positive and that the concerns raised by the transport associations had been taken up for resolution. The Meghalaya-based associations raised the need for dedicated parking space for tourist vehicles at the airport as well as toilet facilities for drivers, Dhar said. The Assam government has agreed to address the concerns and take necessary steps, he added.

The two state governments have also directed their respective police forces to coordinate during vehicle checks to prevent unnecessary harassment of tourist taxi operators and facilitate smoother movement between the states. “Both associations have committed to work together from now onwards. If any minor lapses remain, they will be resolved within a few days,” Dhar said.

A sub-committee headed by the transport commissioners of Assam and Meghalaya will meet whenever required to address emerging issues between the associations and prevent a recurrence of disruptions. Bora said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had directed him to engage with the Meghalaya government following the violence on August 19.

A meeting was subsequently held in Guwahati on August 22, following which a set of resolutions was adopted, he said.Bora added that he later met protesters, following which the agitation was withdrawn. Tuesday’s follow-up meeting was held at the request of the Meghalaya-based associations, Bora said, adding that the situation had now returned to normal.

“We are working on the resolutions adopted on August 23. Now the situation is normal,” Bora said. The latest agreement is expected to restore regular tourist taxi movement between Assam and Meghalaya and provide a formal mechanism for the two states to address operational issues and prevent similar disruptions in the future.