Panaji (Goa): The tourist taxi operators are leaving no stone unturned to maintain a monopoly over this business. A delegation held an emergency meeting with Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar seeking his support to keep at bay any attempts to introduce Ola and Uber cab service in the State.
The Minister has also extended his support to the local group arguing that the only business left for Goans should not be snatched away. “This is the only tourism-related business left for the Goans. Other occupations in this sector have almost slipped away from our hands. We should not allow any non-Goan cab agencies to take over this business. It a question of our locals’ livelihood,” Salgaonkar told the reporters after a comprehensive meeting with the aggrieved taxi operators.
While supporting their cause, Salgaonkar has also suggested regulating the business conceding that the taxi drivers indeed charge hefty fares. But, here too, he had a justification. “The taxi operators charge extra, depending on the routes chosen and most importantly, the time. The charges will vary during the day and night hours on the same route,” he explained, adding, “however, this should be informed to the passengers. I will approach the Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) to bring in regulation as well as introduce a system to display fare chart at every important tourist location.”
The taxi operators are upset with the sudden move by a section of people to introduce Ola and Uber cabs in Goa. In a bid to curb the taxi mafia, an NRI of Goan origin Mahesh Sardesai started e-petition a week ago to allow Ola and Uber services in Goa to boost the State’s tourism economy. “The taxi drivers never obey the law. They charge exorbitant tariff from the passengers. This has left a bad impression in the eyes of the tourists, who go back with complaints. How will we get tourists if taxi mafias rule the state in such a way,” Mahesh Sardesai, the brain behind the online petition said. He even got an indirect backing of Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar who claimed that Goans should not shy away from taking up the challenge. But the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Chairman and now Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar have opposed the proposal, as they believe that Goan taxis can be operated on lines with the app-based cab service.
Team TNV
