VASCO: In a major setback to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), around 100 taxi operators from Dabolim Airport withdrew from the scheme and got out of the Goa Miles Taxi app on Sunday morning.
According to information, around 100 taxi operators affiliated to Mormugao Tourist Taxi Union (MTTU) met at the Dabolim airport and alleged that they were coaxed by their leaders into joining the GoaMiles app in the hope of being alloted an independent counter at the airport.
While 150 members are affiliated to the MTTU, the taximen have said around 100 taximen had withdrawn from the GoaMiles App, while others would leave the taxi-base app shortly.
MTTU members also tendered unconditional apologies to North and South Goa taxi union for their mistake.
Speaking to reporters at Dabolim airport, the aggrieved MTTU taxi operators said they were made to pay money as union fees and had assured the taxi operators that only MTTU members would be given an exclusive counter at the Dabolim International Airport for operation of taxis.
Taxi operators further alleged that their MTTU leaders had assured them a counter in the airport and had registered their taxis in the Goa Miles App by collecting union fees, even though the registration for the GoaMiles App was free of cost.
Taxi operators also alleged that they were further assured that an exclusive counter would be given to the taxi operators of the MTTU by GTDC in a few days, thereby giving them a golden chance to have good business at the Dabolim International Airport.
Taxi operators also said that they were not aware of ground realities, until a few days ago when GTDC officials informed them at the Airport that there were no registration charges to register for the GoaMiles App and that, there would never be an exclusive counter dedicated for conducting app-based taxi business at Dabolim Airport.
Taxi operators also clarified they were not against the GoaMiles App but against one MTTU leader who had spread misleading information about the GTDC and the counter.
"We have been tricked into registering our taxis for the GoaMiles App. If the registration for the app is free and we are not getting a counter for us, then why was the money taken? We were told that the queue system for our taxis would be at counter. We were also initially told that we would get a counter without registering for the App," complained a Taxi operator Jaffer Shaikh and member of MTTU.
Later when contacted, MTTU President Manoj Tari confirmed said that some money had been taken as union fees.
"Very soon, I will clarify all details regarding the Union fees with the members and media," said Tari.
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Another 200 inducted,
withdrawal will not
affect service: GTDC
GoaMiles MD Utkarsh Dabhade said that the 90 service providers who sought to leave the initiative from the Vasco fleet on demands for hike in rates was unacceptable.
“Whatever rates are being charged under the app based taxi service is as per government approved rates and there is no question of a separate category,” he said.
