PANAJI
The tourist taxi owners have warned of a “never seen before agitation” on the roads if the Goa government refuses to scrap its decision to launch a new mobile application for the taxi industry.
At a press conference, the upset taxi owners put the onus on the government for any law and order situation owing to the agitation.
“We will come on the streets with a bigger and a never seen before agitation if the government fails to roll back its decision to start a new taxi app. It will be the government’s sole responsibility for possible law and order situation,” one of the leaders told reporters as they descended to Panaji city in large numbers to oppose yet another competitor after GoaMiles app-based cab service.
The taxi operators, vehemently condemning Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s insistence on “Goa Taxi” app, also questioned the government’s wisdom behind re-launching the GoaMiles counter at Dabolim airport.
“The app business has already destroyed our traditional business. What else does this government want? During the elections, the government shut the GoaMiles counter at the airport to garner our support for votes and now they have re-launched it. Why does an app-based service need a counter,” questioned another.
Recently, Godinho had met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and decided to start the new app by New Year in order ‘to ease transportation’.
Godinho has maintained that all stakeholders including taxi operators will be taken into confidence while urging them to come on board to work in tandem with the authorities. “It is their app, for their benefit,” he had said.
The government has also decided to enforce welfare schemes for these taxi operators to ensure their needs are taken care of while also giving quality service to passengers, most of whom comprise tourists. The taxi operators have however rubbished the claim alleging that the government was doing it for their welfare.
“Was the government sleeping all these years to think about our welfare? Why now? Even the digital fare meters is a scam,” said another.
