PANAJI: Tourists taxis in Goa are off the road today to highlight pending issues even as alternate arrangements of transport for tourists made by the government and the hotel industry seem to be working well.
No violence is reported from any part of the state, so far. Thousands of
taxi operators have assembled at the Azad Maidan, in the capital city since morning. They are protesting against the failure of the government to address their "grievances".
In the tourist belt of Candolim-Baga, as well as in South Goa, all the tourist taxis were off the road. Hoteliers had made alternate arrangement for their guests while the government has provided buses from the airport and railways stations.
There was strong police force posted in the coastal belt to prevent any untoward incident.
In their long list of demands, the protesting taxi operators have asked the government to exempt them from the Supreme Court order of installing speed governors and for RTOs to stop "harassing" them to implement this rule.
Responding to warning by the government that their permits would be cancelled if they indulged in violence, the taxi operators at the meeting at Azad Maidan said they would voluntarily give up their permits if the government provided them with jobs.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao and Goa Mahila Congress President, Pratima Coutino arrived at the location to show their support to the taxi operators.
Parrikar refuses striking taxi trade's speed governor demand
Even as taxi operators across Goa went on strike, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today refused to accept their demand on the issue of speed governors in their vehicles.
Parrikar told reporters that the installation of speed governors is mandatory as per Supreme Court guidelines and not installing them would attract provisions of contempt of court.
He reiterated that February 24, 2018 is the deadline for taxi operators to install speed governors and vehicles without this equipment, post the deadline, would not get fitness certificates from the transport department.
Parrikar told reporters that no action would be taken against those who were maintaining peace during the strike.
"My warning of action was only in case they resorted to violence. If they don't ply their vehicles, I can't force them to bring it on the roads," he said.
He added that the Essential Service Maintenance Act was invoked yesterday only to ensure that the taxi operators are forced to ply their vehicle, if needed, by the state.
The
state government, meanwhile, pressed into service private vehicles and buses to tide over the strike.
Thousands of taxi operators have assembled at the Azad Maidan, in the capital city since morning
