NT NETWORK

Calangute

The North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association and NGTTOA Rent A Car Association have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the government demanding scrapping of GoaMiles-the app-based taxi service, if not, they said, they would be compelled to come out streets with their families.

The members of the associations held a press conference in Calangute where the leader Vasu Arlekar told the media that they have submitted a memorandum to the government giving 7 days to scrap the GoaMiles.

He took potshots at the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and accused it of misguiding the government on the app-based taxi issue.

He said that “there has been no complaint filed at any police station against any taxi driver related to overcharging. Today outsiders are looting tourists but fingers are pointed at the sons of the soil, who earn their livelihood from tourism.”

Ravindra Vengurlekar said that after the government scrapped the taxi badge, outsiders came into the taxi business eating into the earnings of the local drivers, adding, the app-based service is not suitable for most of the taxi drivers who have crossed 60 years of age.

Chanu Chodankar said that “his grandfather was a taxi driver and this is the fourth generation that is into taxi business and taxi has been our only source of livelihood. The government should safeguard our interest and other Goans who are into this business.”

Bappa Korgaonkar told the media that if the government does not pay heed to their demands, the only option they would be left with is surrendering their taxi licence and in turn seeking jobs from the government.

“We will not allow GoaMiles in Goa. The taxi operators under the GoaMiles are charging below the gazette rates and, hence, we have also lowered our rates and even the overhead charges like night charges, luggage, waiting charges are all cancelled. We have bank loans to be repaid and support our family, but our earnings are gone,” said the association members.

Some taxi union members said that “tourists going to the airport are charged Rs 980 by GoaMiles drivers, while we charge Rs 1200 as per the rates prescribed by the government in the gazette. The point-to-point rates of GoaMiles are very less and it is affecting our taxi operations.”

They said that “in the past, the members of the tourist taxi union had met with the ex-chief minister and finalised rates and, accordingly, the tourism department had given us boards for display of rates, erected at Calangute, Baga, Candolim beaches and in Calangute market, but looking at the rates the tourists do not even ask for our taxis and, hence, we run our taxis buy offering rates lower than the prescribed charges. If any tourist taxi driver is found overcharging, cancel his permit but do not deprive our business through alternatives like app-based taxi service.”

They alleged that the GoaMiles has been operating in Goa without licence and the chief minister has failed to arrive at any solution on the issue. “If the government fails to resolve the matter, we will go on strike on 11 and 12 of this month and sit on dharna in front of the tourism office in Panaji,” they said.