VASCO
Alleging that the State government was favouring GoaMiles and sidelining tourist taxi operators who were real Goans, two taxi associations have sought the intervention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho in the matter.
"The government has implemented the badge system for taxis and while the local Goans face severe hardships to get the badge, including medical check-ups, GoaMiles operators who are mostly non-Goans are getting it the easy way through a mediator,” alleged All Goa Tourist Taxi Association President Chetan Kamat.
“How can GoaMiles offer the taxi business to migrants? The government is taking advantage of our silence and patience. We have not retorted to any violations, but the government is not listening to our grievances.”
“We came to the airport only because we were informed that our taxi operators are being harassed by GoaMiles operators. We have not beaten up any GoaMiles operator and these are baseless allegations.”
“We want the police to register our complaint as well and arrest the person who has beaten our driver at the airport,” said Kamat.
All Goa Yellow Black Taxi Associations President Sunil Naik said GoaMiles operators would regularly reduce fares and transport customers, leaving local taxi operators without business.
"There are instances when GoaMiles operators take passengers from Anjuna to Airport for Rs 600 and they can do it because they have already got one ride from the Airport to Anjuna. They can charge anything because they were supposed to return empty-handed.”
“Why are authorities not penalising GoaMiles operators who undercharge customers? This will be a reason for clashes because every Goan who has a taxi wants to earn a livelihood fairly. We will not tolerate incidents where these GoaMiles operators try to crush our business," said Naik.
