PANAJI
Responding to the State government’s threat to cancel permits of 2,934 tourist taxis in the State, agitating tourist taxi operators have challenged the government to cancel their permits and have reiterated their refusal to fix digital meters.
Association of Tourist Taxi Owners President Chetan Kamat said all taxi operators have handed over the charge of legal matters to Sudip Tamhankar of All Goa Private Bus Owners Association and said the stand taken by Tamhankar would be the same stand of the taxi operators.
Speaking to reporters, Tamhankar said the taxi operators have challenged the government to cancel their tourist taxi permits. “Following this action, all taximen will surrender their permits and it will be up to the government to provide an alternate source of livelihood to the taxi operators,” said Tamhankar.
He alleged that the government’s misrepresentation in the High Court had created all problems and the court had directed the installation of digital meters.
“Actually, taxis in the State are linked to a hotel and the hotel operator is the one who has to affix the fare and not the taxi operator,” claimed Tamhankar.
Tamhankar said the transport minister’s claim to offer a refund on digital meters was a false claim.
“When the government is facing the financial crunch, how a minister can assure of some scheme without financial assurance,” asked Tamhankar.
“The government has not even paid money of the scheme to bus operators since the last three years. How we can trust the government to pay money for digital meters,” he asked.
