Nongpoh, August 21: The Ri-Bhoi district administration has advised commuters and travellers to avoid the Byrnihat-Jorabat road after the route was blocked from both sides amid the ongoing Assam-Meghalaya taxi standoff.
In a public advisory issued on Friday, Ri Bhoi District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhishek Saini said the route should be avoided until further notice, particularly by passengers travelling for health-related purposes, airport and railway travel, and other essential emergencies.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: The Byrnihat–Jorabat road is presently blocked from both sides. Given the situation, passengers traveling for health-related purposes, airport and railway travel, and other essential emergencies are requested to avoid the Byrnihat–Jorabat route until further… pic.twitter.com/3Vzby6pXBy
— Meghalaya Tourism (@meghtourism) August 21, 2026
The administration has suggested alternative routes for travellers heading between Meghalaya and Guwahati.
For travellers from Shillong, Nongpoh and Byrnihat towards Guwahati airport and railway stations, the administration has suggested either the Byrnihat-Pillingkata-Killing route or the Nongpoh-Patharkham-Rani route.
For Shillong-bound travellers arriving from Guwahati airport or railway stations, the suggested alternatives are the Basistha-Pillingkata-Killing route or the Rani-Patharkham-Mairang route.
The advisory urged commuters to plan their journeys accordingly and cooperate with authorities to ensure the smooth movement of essential traffic.
The development comes amid heightened tension between tourist taxi operators from Assam and Meghalaya, with Meghalaya taxi associations warning of reciprocal restrictions if Meghalaya-registered vehicles continue to face obstruction while entering Assam.
The Ri Bhoi administration has asked all concerned to avoid the Jorabat-Byrnihat road from both the Assam and Meghalaya sides and use the designated alternative routes until further notice.
