Mopa Airport Blue Cab operators threaten stir

Blue Cab taxi operators while addressing a news conference. Photo: Nivruti Shirodkar

THE GOAN NETWORK

PERNEM

Upset over the prolonged closure of the Blue Cab taxi stand at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Blue Cab taxi operators have threatened an agitation if the blue cab taxi stand at the airport is not reopened within two days.

Addressing a news conference in Nagzar-Pernem, Sandeep Kambli, president of the Blue Cab Blue Taxi Stand Association, claimed that their taxi stand at Mopa Airport has been closed for the past two months because of non-compliance with security clearance rules.

“As a result, the Blue Cab taxis are operating outside the airport premises,” Kambli said.

“Unemployed youth had started the blue taxi business by taking loans from banks. Now two instalments of the loan have not been paid and if the third instalment is not paid, then banks will take possession of the cars,” said Kambli.

“The government should pay us three months compensation and the Blue Cab taxi stand should be reopened within two days, failing which Blue Cab taxi operators will be forced to stage an agitation and if any untoward incident happens, we will not be responsible.”

Taxi operator Anand Gawas lamented that there is still no justice for those whose lands were lost for the Mopa airport.

“Our lands were also lost for the Mopa airport and yet, we are not getting a taxi stand. We followed the government's orders but there is injustice against the locals. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should urgently look into this matter,” said Gawas.

Some Blue Cab taxi operators felt that the transport department should lease the Blue Cab Taxi Stand to the taxi operators.