Canacona taxi operators demand complete ban on GoaMiles service

A delegation of taximen from Canacona in discussion with CMC Chairperson Sara Naik Dessai.

CANACONA
Accusing the GoaMiles taxi app service of threatening their livelihood, taxi operators from Canacona have demanded a complete ban on GoaMiles from picking up customers in Canacona.

“GoaMiles operators are free to drop customers as much as they want, but returning with customers from Canacona is leaving us with no business. How do we survive if we do not get a single trip in a week’s time? GoaMiles operators are even threatening the businesses of rickshaws, as they (GoaMiles) even take up short trips,” complained local taxi driver Krishna Naik.

Incidentally, a delegation of Canacona taximen met Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar and later met Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Sara Shamba Naik Desai to complain against GoaMiles for making a video of an alleged assault on a GoaMiles driver in Canacona on Friday.

“One video went viral in Margao that Canacona taximen had attempted to assault a GoaMiles driver. This is false, and we assure that no such thing has happened in Canacona. In fact, GoaMiles drivers are threatening us with police complaints whenever we try to politely ask them to leave after dropping their guests/customers,” said Kishore Pagi.

Added Sumant Bandekar, while speaking on behalf of Canacona taximen, “We are being threatened in our own land, with false accusations against our fellow drivers. GoaMiles taxis operate on a one-way fare, which is always less than our rate, as we charge government-approved rates, and we have to levy a two-way cost for any number of drops.”

“As many as 335 tourist taxis in Canacona struggle to get passengers, while outstation GoaMiles taxis, which drop customers, stay back and return with new guests, depriving us of transporting these guests.”

According to the agitated taximen, Tawadkar has assured them that he will take up the issue with the minister concerned and even Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to find a solution.

CMC Chairperson Naik Desai sought a written memorandum and assured to pass a resolution and forward it to the government for implementation.