Panaji (Goa)

After a high pitch drama that saw BJP and Goa Forward Party leaders facing wrath at Azad Maidan, the strike called by taxi operators continued for the second day today.

“The strike continues even today and not a single taxi will operate in the State. We have been protesting peacefully. The strike will continue till our voice reaches the State government,” said Vinayak Nanoskar, General Secretary, North Goa Tourist Taxi Association.

In the absence of tourist taxis, the passengers continued facing difficulties at the Airport, Railway Stations and touristic places though State government-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited plied their buses to ease out the situation.

State chief minister Manohar Parrikar has refused to accept the demands of the taxi operators claiming that installation of Speed Governor is a part of SC directives and they will have to be adhered by February 24. Parrikar had told reporters yesterday that tourist taxi without Speed Governor will not be given fitness certificate by State Transport Department.

State Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had called the strike as illegal and even threatened to introduce services of taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber in th estate to replace the traditional tourist taxi services.