VASCO
Unhappy over the reluctance of black-yellow taxi operators to ply their taxis at Dabolim airport, a livid GTDC Chairman and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral on Saturday accused them of betraying the government and threatened to open another counter for other taxi services at Dabolim airport.
Cabral gave vent to his anger when he visited the Dabolim airport to take stock of the situation and to verify if black-yellow taxis were in operation. He was engaged in heated discussions with the black-yellow taxi operators.
Later speaking to the media, Cabral said: “All this while, the GTDC sorted out all issues pertaining to black-yellow taxis, especially while they objected to a new counter for taxis planned by Airports Authority of India.”
“I spoke to them on Friday and they assured to keep their services open at the airport. If that was the case, why do we need so many KTC and GTDC buses here? Secondly, they claim to be afraid of backlash by tourist taxi operators, but the tourist taxi association has assured it would not take law in their hands.”
“When we listen to everything they say and they can’t support the government when needed, why should we listen to the black-yellow taxi operators?”
Cabral said he would submit a report to the government on the situation at Dabolim airport.
“If the government has taken the responsibility to ensure black-yellow taxis are running properly, then they should also support the government. The black-yellow taxi operators should not blame us tomorrow if the government opens a new counter at the airport.” “I will submit a report to the government and will also insist on making taxi business available to everyone if the taxi operators don’t fall in line by Saturday evening,” warned Cabral.
“Today, several trucks are lined up in mining areas and tomorrow if tourists stop visiting Goa, these taxis will be lined up next to the trees in a corner. I had even told them that I would see if they
were threatened by anyone,” said Cabral.
