MARGAO
Agitated tourist taxi operators from Salcete’s coastal belt sounded the war bugle on Tuesday against GoaMiles, as they along with local MLA Venzy Viegas have vowed to ensure that the taxi aggregator is not allowed to park anywhere in Benaulim constituency.
They, however, hastened to add that they have no objection to GoaMiles taxis dropping customers, but warned they will not tolerate the illegal business of GoaMiles taxis in the constituency.
The tourist taxi operators along with the Benaulim MLA told the media that they will sent letters to the RTO, traffic cell and the local police to ensure that they crack a whip against GoaMiles taxis found parked near the local churches and hotels.
“We will not allow the GoaMiles taxis to pick up customers from the hotels dotting the coastal belt. We have no problem if the taxi aggregator drops customers in the constituency, but under no circumstance we will tolerate GoaMiles taxis picking up guests from the hotels,” Venzy warned.
He added: “We had highlighted the illegal taxi operators of GoaMiles in the recently concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. But, the situation has not changed on the ground. Now, we have finally decided not to allow GoaMiles taxis to park anywhere in the constituency.”
Saying that the government cannot direct the tourist taxi operators to come on app, Venzy said such directions are in violation of the fundamental rights enshrined under the Constitution.
A tourist taxi operator from Varca, Jose Afonso said the local taxi operators have never stopped GoaMiles taxis from dropping customers. “GoaMiles is doing illegal business. They are not original Goans. And, they are not from the coastal belt. Let them do the taxi business from their respective villages,” Jose said.
While pointing out that local villagers had to bear the brunt of the hotel industry over the years, including sound and dust pollution, Jose said, “We have suffered over the years. And, now they want to deny us our livelihood.”
Another tourist taxi operator from Colva, Savio has demanded to know how the government has provided counter to the GoaMiles at the airports. “Let GoaMiles put up hoardings outside, but they cannot be allowed to have a counter at the airport,” he said, while expressing solidarity with the striking tourist taxi operators from Pernem. “We stand in support of the people of Pernem. They are the local people who have lost their land. And, when they want to eke a living on the taxi operators, they are sought to be displaced from their own land,” he added.
Referring to comments in certain quarters that services offered by GoaMiles is cheap and affordable, MLA Venzy said, “No one is stopping the people from availing GoaMiles taxis. Let people use GoaMiles for their daily travel. What we are asking is please don’t encroach into the traditional taxi business of the local youth outside the hotels along Salcete coastal belt.”
