Taxi problems
What is the problem with all these taxi associations in Goa? We have had issues in the past with the tourist taxi associations, who throw their weight around in Goa. Now to add to that goondagiri, we have the rent-a-cab operators, who are now planning protest marches against the government’s alleged bad treatment. First of all, most of these guys are operating illegally. Even if they are renting their cars out, there has to be some sort of norms to be followed. Judging by the amount of cars with GA number plates, both yellow/black, and white, driven by tourists there is a lot of wrongdoing happening. These men should surely be held responsible if the people driving the car commit some crime. Just the other day, a group of tourists were standing up in a moving jeep (which had a normal white number plate). They had beer cans and were blasting music. What kind of attitude and behaviour is this? The car owners should be fined in this case. As it is, we need to get better public transport facilities in Goa. The government needs to invite Ola Cabs and other companies to set up business here.
Samson D’souza, Porvorim
Dangerous bikers
The internal roads in South Goa are very dangerous. Recently there was an accident on the Benaulim-Sernabatim road, where a biker almost lost his life. Cycling tourists with no reflectors also pose a danger to motorists, especially after dark. But it’s the biker who is the most dangerous, as the youth with their sport bikes race on these narrow roads through the day and even at night. None of them wear helmets and treat these roads like a race track. It is impossible to drive anywhere without encountering these college students or those who are a little older. Perhaps the police need to place some inspectors there who can catch these juveniles in the act and send a warning to the rest of the riders. They are making it an unsafe place to commute.
Ramakant Naik, Colva
City issues
The problems between the ruling party MLA in Panaji and the municipal panel have always increased due to the fact that there is no political synergy and similar agenda. Panaji has been neglected for a long time. Now we have plans to make it a Smart City or implement a Masterplan. All this is necessary for all cities in Goa, but especially the capital city. Panaji needs to be decongested, as there is traffic and problems with parking as soon as you enter the city until you are past Miramar. Most people do not use Patto because it’s a problem to travel inside the city once you park there. Common sense would dictate that some bus service could pass through that area on a regular basis which would encourage people to park there. There is also the matter of the flooding that takes place every monsoon on the road at the bottom of the new Patto bridge. Can whoever wins this time start looking at these issues and many others that have plagued Panaji for years now?
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
