Marking a milestone for the taxi services in Ukhrul town, two local taxi organisations — the Ukhrul District Passengers’ Service Association (HAWA-UDPASA) and Ukhrul District Taxi Welfare Association (UDTWA) — have come together for a new formation under one umbrella body dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the taxi services in Ukhrul town.
The new collaboration, known as the Ukhrul Town Taxi Services (UTTS), constituted under the nomenclature of UDTWA-Local Taxi, is to be governed by the Ukhrul Town Taxi Service Controlling Board (UTTSCB).
The newly formed association and its executive committee constituted for a period of three years, were officially recognised during a declaration and authorisation programme held at Bakshi Ground, Dungrei on Thursday.
The declaration and authorisation was formally pronounced by Ukhrul ADC caretaker chairman Mark A Luithing in the presence of UTTSCB secretary & Addl SP Ringthing Hongchui, UDTWA president CH Khathing, vice president Graceson Valui, TNL vehicle incharge K Ahao, Bumrei Baptist Church pastor Reverend Joshua Zimik and others.
Speaking at the event, Mark Luithing expressed his elation at the new alliance that enabled the two organisations to combine joint resources and develop unified approaches and strategies in order to strengthen their foothold in the transport business of the township.
“Today, I declare UDTWA is the legitimate authority of taxi services in the town and hand over operational authority to the committee,” he declared.
The ADC chief took the opportunity to urge the newly appointed members of the executive committee to take ownership of the taxi operations in the town seriously and look into the best interests of both the taxi drivers and the customers. He said that they need to make sure that all the taxi services operators are invited into the new collaboration to work with onenes and unity.
The declaration was followed by a round of applause and cheers from the gathered crowd, signifying their agreement with the ADC’s decision to confer UDTWA with the official authority to run taxi services in the town.
The ceremony also marked a new beginning for the taxi services in the town, and the executive committee of UDTWA is confident that they will be able to build on this foundation and make the taxi business even better.
Among the new executive committee members are KVS Rocky as convenor, Khanmaya Horam as co-convenor, Chuimeikhai Mashangva as general secretary, SK John Calvin as joint secretary, RSM Yurthan as treasurer, Vareiyo Wungleng as accountant, Ngamshang Vashum as information secretary and Ramshan Shangh, KR Cannan, Benjamin T and Vareiso Sharon as executive members.
Meanwhile, the committee informed that it has initiated the process for logo creation and added that currently there are 382 registered taxis operating in the township and are going to ply under one colour and logo. With registration still underway the number of taxis is expected to rise.
