MAPUSA
Staunchly opposing app-based taxis in the State, the North Goa Taxi Owners Association (NGTOA) on Thursday demanded that the government should either scrap GoaMiles taxis before the assembly session or be ready to face consequences.
“We are totally against any app-based taxis or bikes. The transport department should come out with an order scraping GoaMiles. Henceforth, the government should not bring any app-based taxis in the State,” said Prakash Kurke, General Secretary of NGTOA.
The general secretary of NGTOA along with other executive members was addressing a news conference at Chapora.
Speaking further, Kurke informed that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had requested for a period of two weeks during the meeting held last week with the taxi owners.
“The former CM had appealed to the taxi owners to join GoaMiles but a majority of us have refused to be part of it. Only 3,000 taxis are with GoaMiles and around 30,000 local taxi owners are on the other side. Since we are in the majority, the government should scrap it,” he said.
According to NGTOA executive member Yogesh Govekar, the local taxi owners were against any app-based taxis and bikes and will remain firm on the decision.
“The app-based taxis got a back-door entry in the State. The government should scrap GoaMiles before the assembly elections. If they do so, we will be with them or else we will scrap this government in the elections,” Govekar said.
He said the app-based taxis don’t run in any of the tourist spots in India and it worked only in metropolitan cities because of the volume of customers.
“The government says that the app-based taxi is brought for Goans. I want to ask how many Goans are using taxis. Most Goans own two-wheelers and cars. Taxis run only along the tourist belt,” he said.
He said the government was just giving assurances but failed to take any concrete action over the matter.
He further warned that if the government fails to take a decision within two weeks as demanded by the CM then the taxi owners would decide on its future course of action.
