MARGAO
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and tourist taxi operators from Salcete coastal belt has hailed Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s assurance on the issue of subsidy and badges for the tourist taxi operators, with the MLA terming it as a first time in building new relations between the Transport Department and the taxi operators in resolving many a pending issue.
Addressing the media along with the tourist taxi operators from Benaulim constituency, the Benaulim MLA said the Transport Minister has agreed to his Private Member resolution on the issue of sanctioning subsidies to the operators who could not claim the subsidy in the year 2019-20. He also expressed happiness that the Transport Minister has accepted the need to have badges for the tourist taxi operators as a means of establishing the identity of the drivers.
“The tourist taxi operators have been facing a whole lot of issues. But, this is the first step the Transport Minister has taken to resolve these two issues. We hope to have a revised relation with the Transport Minister in the new financial year with a new budget presented by the Chief Minister. Transport Minister Mauvin has started on a positive note and we expect the minister to resolve other issues plaguing the tourist taxi operators in due course of time,” Venzy said.
While stressing on the need to maintain the traditional mode of tourist taxi operations, the Benaulim MLA pointed out that the Transport Minister’s plea for introduction of technology can be looked into the future keeping in the mind the interests of the traditional operators.
Tourist taxi operator Roque Fernandes thanked the Benaulim MLA for his initiative in getting the two issues resolved. He also thanked Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and MLAs Michael Lobo and others for supporting the cause of the tourist taxi operators.
