Bhutanese taxi drivers in Samtse are not happy with the neighbouring Indian taxis doing local trips within Samtse town. According to a meeting held between the erstwhile RSTA office and taxi drivers of the two sides in 2019, a mutual agreement was met wherein Indian taxis can only bring and drop off passengers at the taxi stand in Samtse town. However, the Bhutanese cab drivers say today no one is following the agreement and it is severely affecting their business.
Local taxi drivers in Samtse say Indian taxis entering the town and doing local businesses have picked up, especially after the reopening of border gates.
Today, Indian cab drivers offer services at a very low cost. This has led to local taxi drivers complaining about losing most of their passengers to their Indian counterparts.
“As per the agreement they are allowed to bring passengers from the border gate to Samtse taxi parking. However, not many are following the agreement. We have seen them doing local businesses in almost all town areas like in Dhamdum, Alaypakha, Sukriti and Gurung Basti,” said Karma Khendra, a taxi driver.
“We are not saying that the Indian taxis should not be allowed to enter Samtse. We are neighbours and we should always maintain a good relationship among ourselves. But today they are doing taxi businesses all over the town and this is affecting us a lot,” said Tshering Wangchuk, another taxi driver.
Unhappy over the matter, taxi drivers with the help of the Taxi Association of Samtse have written to the transport authority numerous times.
“I have talked with the RSTA officials here regarding the matter, however, they say they cannot stop the Indian taxis from entering the country as it is in keeping with the Bhutan-India friendship. We are also not saying that we should not allow them to enter Samtse. We equally respect the good relationship the two countries share. All we are asking for is a designated place for Indian cabs to do business,” said Dorji, Bhutan Taxi Association’s Tshogpa in Samtse.
The Taxi Association again plans to write to the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority and the Samtse District Administration very soon.
Relevant officials were not available for comments.
Today, all Bhutanese taxi drivers in Samtse charge about a hundred ngultrum as a local fare. However, Indian taxis charge only about Nu 20 for the same trip.
As of today, Samtse district has about 200 taxis.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Kipchu
