the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that they would oppose tooth and nail taxi stands for the Goa Miles App-based service along the state’s coastal belt, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Wednesday said the cabinet decision in favour of the service would work against the interests of self-employed Goans
dependent on the tourist taxi business.
Tourist taxi operators also questioned the government’s invitation to the tourist taxi operators to join Goa Miles when the government gazette clearly states that tourist taxis are attached to starred and beach hotels to ferry tourists. The tourist taxi operators also demanded to know why the Goa Miles taxis were absent at Colva on Wednesday, adding that this only goes to show they are not Goans, but outsiders who have been brought to Goa to drive the taxis.
Addressing the media at his office at Varca on Wednesday evening, Churchill made it clear that he does not agree with the decision of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the state cabinet to support Goa Miles taxis.
“I will fight till the last breath of my life to stop Goa Miles taxis from making forays along the coastal belt from Morjim to Cavelossim. If minister Rohan Khaunte says Goa Miles have benefitted Goans, let the app-based taxi service ferry locals. We are only opposed to any stand for these app-based taxis along the coastal belt. If the Chief Minister says Goa Miles are earning more than the tourist taxi operators, we have absolutely no objection. If the Goa Miles service drops passengers to Colva, we have no objection. What we are objecting to is a stand for the Goa Miles service along the coastal belt,” Churchill asserted, and prayed that the almighty give wisdom to the government to protect the interests of Goans.
The Benaulim MLA said the government is only gauging the response of the Goan tourist taxi operators by trying to make forays in Colva, suspecting that thousands of app-based taxis will flood the coastal belt if the taxi stands are allowed along the
coastal belt.
Tourist taxi operator, Joe Afonso demanded to know whether the Goa Miles taxi app can take passengers for sight seeing. Claiming that he has details over a Goa Miles taxi taking passengers for sightseeing, Afonso said he has forwarded the details to the Chief Minister for appropriate action.
Demanding to know why the Goa Miles taxis were conspicuous by their absence at Colva on the occasion of Eid, Afonso said, “Tourist taxi operators, who are Christians keep their taxis off the roads on Christmas while their Hindu brethren do not ply their taxis on Diwali. In Goa, there are only three per cent original Muslims. We have no idea why the Goa Miles taxis
are stopped today,” Afonso added.
Displaying a government gazette stating that tourist taxi operators are given permits to ply from starred and beach hotels, Afonso said the tourist taxi operators are only plying their taxis based on this notification. “This notification does not state anything about Goa Miles app-based taxi service. We are going by the government gazette and we charge the tourists as per the fares notified in the gazette,” he added.
While rejecting the government’s invitation to join the app-based taxi service, the tourist taxi operators and the Benaulim MLA have disclosed plans to unveil their future plan of action later this week.
