the goan I network
MARGAO
Taxis under GoaMiles made hay at the Margao railway station as the black and yellow taxis kept their vehicles off the roads on Friday in response to the strike call given by the all Goa taxi operators.
As the pre-paid black and yellow taxi counter, located just outside the Margao railway station, wore a deserted look, with no black and yellow taxis seen anywhere around the counter, the GoaMiles taxis made brisk business, transporting customers descending at the railway station to various destinations.
President of Margao Taxi Driver & Operators Association President Sandip Arlekar accused the GoaMiles operators for canvassing for customers outside the Margao railway station. “If GoaMiles is an app-based taxi service, how come the drivers were canvassing for customers right at the entrance to the Margao railway station with pamphlets,” Arlekar said, while condemning the modus operandi adopted by the GoaMiles taxi drivers for directly canvassing for customers outside the railway station.
When a team of The Goan descended at the railway station around noon, one could see pamphlets giving details of GoaMiles taxi app services, in the hands of the drivers. They were found approaching the customers with the pamphlets before taking the customers to their destinations.
While protesting over the modus operandi adopted by the GoaMiles taxi drivers, Arlekar warned that such actions will not be tolerated in the future. “What’s the meaning of app service if the drivers are approaching the customers personally with the pamphlets,” Arlekar questioned.
Unlike in the past, when the black and yellow taxi drivers had crossed swords against each other in the battle for the passengers, things were relatively peaceful at the railway station. “In the past, the police had booked the black and yellow taxi drivers on false complaints. Today, we decided not to get our taxis on the roads. And, we did not object to any GoaMiles taxis plying from the Margao railway station so as not to give any occasion for the GoaMiles to lodge false complaints on us,” Arlekar added.
Inquiries have revealed that app-based taxis under the GoaMiles banner made brisk business at the Margao railway station. The taxis ferried the customers to the Salcete coastal belt and to various destinations throughout the day.
The 100-odd black and yellow taxis, operating at Margao railway station and other places in the city, stayed off the roads on Friday. Though a couple of black and yellow taxis had taken the passengers in the morning, not a single black and yellow taxi was seen around the Margao railway as the day progressed.
