PERNEM
The agitating taxi operators from Pernem finally relented and agreed to a Blue Taxi Stand instead of a Yellow-Black Taxi Stand at the Manohar International Airport (MIA).
A large number of taximen gave their consent during a meeting with Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar at his residence, after he gave them in writing about the Blue Taxi Stand for the taxi operators.
The taxi operators had been demanding a Yellow-Black taxi stand at the MIA and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured to give them a taxi stand. The GMR company then suggested making available a Blue Taxi stand at the airport and the government agreed to the suggestion.
The taxi operators also consented to the blue taxi stand but demanded a written assurance from the government and refused to leave the residence of MLA Pravin Arlekar.
“I presented their issue before the government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has fulfilled his promise of giving the taxi operators a fair share of the taxi business. The issue was resolved in writing and the letter was handed over to the taxi operator’s organisation,” said Arlekar.
Sudip Tamhankar, the leader of the taxi operators, also expressed satisfaction over the written assurance.
“As one of the many issues has been resolved, we are hoping that other issues will also be solved in phases if we remain united,” said Tamhankar.
Keeping politics aside, the AAP leader Pratima Coutinho had also supported the taxi operators and congratulated MLA Pravin Arlekar for staying firm with his support to them.
Uday Mahale, Subodh Mahale, Sarpanch Tulshidas Gaus, Prabhakar Narulkar, Rupesh Kumralkar, Suvek Gaus also spoke on the occasion.
Mindful that the State government had imposed Section 144 from the National Highway to Mopa Airport from Wednesday night, the taxi operators gathered at the residence of Arlekar in Pernem to resolve their demands.
