Panaji: As part of the action against touts operating at the Dabolim airport, the Goa police in the last three years have booked 359 cases.

Reports in this regard were submitted to the deputy director of tourism for necessary action.

In 2021, the Dabolim airport police station had registered 193 cases against touts. In 2022, it had booked 80 cases whereas the Vasco police station booked five cases.

In 2023, the Dabolim airport police station had booked 76 such cases while the Vasco police station had booked five cases, states a written reply in the recently-concluded assembly session.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that complaints were received from the taxi operators plying from the airport that there are some touts operating at the airport who give business to the private illegal taxi operators thereby depriving the registered taxi owners of business.

The defaulters have been booked in accordance with the provision of Section 26 (Malpractice) of Goa Daman and Diu Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982, states a written reply in the recently concluded state assembly session.

The reply also states that the cases are booked not only on receipt of complaints but also booked whenever any defaulters violating the rules and regulation of Tourist Trade Act 1982 are noticed.

Sawant said that the directorate of transport had held meeting with the Superintendent of Police (traffic) Margao in January 2024 along with the airport director, Airports Authority of India, Dabolim, other AAI officers, officers of the transport department and other stakeholders, and accordingly action has been initiated by the police against touts.