PANAJI
The crisis between the Pernem taxi owners and operators, and the Goa government seems to have ended with the latter agreeing to set up a pre-paid yellow-black taxi counter at Manohar International Airport, Mopa.
After a marathon meeting with the stakeholders, the government gave in to their demand late Monday night.
"Their demand was for a pre-paid yellow-black taxi counter at the airport, along with Goa Taxi App and GoaMiles app-based cab counters. We have agreed to their demand and asked them to give us a limit on the number of taxis that will operate from there. They will come back to us tomorrow," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said while addressing a press conference after the meeting in Panaji.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, and MLA Pravin Arlekar among other officials were also a part of the meeting where the stakeholders were adamant for an exclusive counter at the new airport.
CM emphasized that the counter will be for Pernem taxi operators only and they will follow the government-notified fares while the rates for app-based taxis are different.
The government has also clarified that around 500 app-based taxis will operate from the new airport that will see its first landing from Hyderabad on January 5.
The taxi operators, who were led by a delegation, assured to withdraw their strike subject to the Transport Department's decision on their proposal over the total number of pre-paid taxis at Mopa.
Earlier, in a U-turn, MLA Pravin Arlekar extended his support to the taxi operators demanding that government should not let them down.
The stakeholders lamented that the Mopa farmers were cheated by the government and they will not allow it to happen this time. "The government paid the farmers a minimal rate towards the land they purchased to develop Mopa airport. The farmers are struggling for their survival. Let their families earn a decent income through the taxi business," one of them told reporters after their first meeting at Secretariat.
Another taxi owner claimed that the Mopa villagers have no other source of income than the current business and demanded the government be considerate towards them as many unemployed youth in the taluka want to buy taxis for their survival.
