Govt invites taximen for meet

VASCO
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday invited the agitating taximen to a meeting on April 20 to put forth their issues and assured them of placing their grievances against the GoaMiles app-based taxi services before the Cabinet on April 21.

“The government has been constantly explaining to the taximen about the inter-departmental issues. Firstly, the taxi counter at the airport which was allotted to the tourism department must be handed over to the transport department, because transportation is within our purview,” said Godinho, while speaking to reporters at a news conference at the Chicalim panchayat.

“I have been anxiously awaiting the transfer of the two counters at Goa airport to the transport department, after which I can decide to resolve the issues once and for all.”

The minister said the issue had been discussed at a high-level meeting with airport authorities, chief secretary and department officials last week.

“It was informed that the airport cannot transfer these counters directly to the transport department. The airport director said the tourism department must hand over the two counters used by GoaMiles back to them, after which they will transfer it to the State government and it can then be allotted to the transport department,” said Godinho.

He said, “The file for the two counters has been moved and we have to first clear the counter dues amounting to Rs 1.54 crore to the airport authority. The tourism department will pay Rs 1 crore, while the transport department and airport-based United Taximen Association will pay Rs 27 lakh each.”

“Once these two counters are handed over to the transport department, we will meet all taxi associations and take a decision and place it before the cabinet.”

“The taximen are well aware that once the transport department does not give the two counters at Goa Airport to GoaMiles, most of their issues will be resolved.”

Godinho said the transport department had done its best to assist people, who are dependent on the transport business, by giving tax waivers, penalty waivers, free installation of meters, etc.

“GoaMiles was launched before I took over the transport department. I was initially informed that taxi operators would join GoaMiles and hence was defending GoaMiles.”

“We have realised the practical issues of taxi operators and we will resolve the issue. But taxi operators must not insist that they will come for discussion only after scrapping of GoaMiles,” said Godinho.

... Says it can fund app of taximen 

VASCO: Inviting the agitating taxi operators to set up their own app, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the transport department would be willing to fund the initiative.

Godinho said, “We cannot force taxi operators to join GoaMiles, but there have been positive statements by them of willing to go digital in the future and they are aware of apps.”

“If taxi operators don’t want GoaMiles, they can have their own app and the transport department is willing to fund it.”