Guwahati: Assam-Meghalaya traffic remained disrupted for a second day on Friday as drivers blocked vehicles at Jorabat.Members of the Assam State Drivers’ Union (ASDU) blocked Meghalaya-registered vehicles at Jorabat and stopped Assam-registered vehicles from entering Meghalaya. Trucks blocked the road to Meghalaya, while drivers sat on the road to prevent vehicles from passing.More than 100 drivers were present and claimed that vehicles from Meghalaya were stopped at Byrnihat. They said they were targeting only tourist vehicles and allowing ambulances and goods carriers to pass. City police monitored the situation.“We want an assurance from the Meghalaya govt that drivers from Assam travelling to Shillong will not be harassed or stopped, as they are simply doing their jobs. This has been happening every year, and there has been no solution to the issue. The blockade will continue until we receive such an assurance,” said Abdul Kadir, ASDU secretary.Drivers said the Khasi Students’ Union’s move affected their livelihoods. Bishu Das, who has travelled between Guwahati and Shillong for more than 15 years, said the disruption could affect tourism in Meghalaya, with Guwahati serving as a major gateway to the state. As Shillong’s Umroi Airport has limited domestic connectivity, many air passengers land in Guwahati.“The peak season starts next month, when we take tourists to Meghalaya. We pay a significant amount for tourist permits, and incidents like this create a negative image of the state. We cannot take tourists who want to visit Meghalaya because it becomes a risk for both them and us,” Das added.The blockade follows a Khasi Students’ Union rally in Shillong during which several Assam-registered vehicles were attacked.ASDU said it was also seeking the safety of Assam drivers stranded in Meghalaya. The disruption has inconvenienced passengers travelling for work and business.
