The Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) in Phuentsholing has advised the Bhutan Taxi Association in Phuentsholing to register as the Civil Society Organization in order to acquire a legal backing. This comes after the letter written by Bhutan Taxi Association in Phuentsholing to Jaigaon Travels Welfare Association failed to gain due recognition. The letter was regarding Jaigaon taxis ferrying Indians tourists in Bhutan. Without a legal establishment of the Association, government stake holders had considered the Association’s letter baseless.
But the Bhutan Taxi Association in Phuentsholing is still considering the recommendation. Speaking to our reporter, Sonam Wangdi, a Tshogpa of the Bhutan Taxi Association, Karma, said they are still discussing the matter. Another Tshogpa, Sonam, said if they register the association as a CSO, many problems the association currently faces will be addressed.
The Association said they had written to Indian counterparts after their repeated complaints to RSTA fell on deaf ears. However, they clarified that the letter was not to restrict Indian taxis from entering Phuentsholing gate.
“When we travel to Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong, we just drop our passengers as we are not allowed to take them for sightseeing. We also want similar kind of practice,” said Sonam.
The association members said the Indian taxis plying inside Phuentsholing at cheaper rates is affecting their business. “Our business is only getting worse with Indian taxis taking tourists from India for sightseeing inside Bhutan.”
There are over 1, 700 taxis registered with RSTA in Phuentsholing.
