MARGAO: Tourist taxis across the state will go off the roads on January 19 in protest against the harassment meted out to the operators by the RTO and traffic police and the government's decision to go ahead with the implementation of the speed governors for the tourist taxis.
The decision to take the taxis off the road was taken at a joint meeting of the tourist taxi owners and drivers of both North and South at Benaulim on Sunday evening. Agitated tourist taxi operators expressed their disgust over empty promises given by the government to resolve all outstanding isuses, saying that not a single issue has been satisfactorily resolved by the authorities till date. They pointed out that they had till date met the MLAs, Ministers and even the MPs, but their grievances remains unresolved.
After the meeting, the tourist taxi owners and operators from both the district said they have received no justice from the government authorities and accused the RTO for meting out harassment. "We have decided to go off the road on January 19 because of the injustice meted out by the RTO officials. What we have received from the government are only empty promises and no action", a taxi operator told The Goan.
They pointed out that RTO officials stop the tourist taxi operators at almost every junction while the
authorities turn a blind eye to the thousands of illegal taxis plying in the state. "Our documents are not returned back for months and months together. They delay in issuing the fitness certificates for our vehicles. Harassment is meted out at every steps in our business operation", they contended.
On the controversy surrounding the implementation of speed governors for the tourist taxis, the state government is going ahead with the implementation of the speed governors despite our plea. "We don't want the speed governors as we are certain that we will not get the business. No one will hire our vehicles when customers want us to drop them within a time", a tourist taxi operator said, adding that the tourist taxi operators will oppose the speed governors tooth and nail.
Replying to a question, a taxi operator informed that while the taxis will go off the road on January 9, the question of continuing the agitation indefinite will be taken on January 19 after taking stock of the situation.
The decision to take the taxis off the road was taken at a joint meeting of the tourist taxi owners and drivers of both North and South at Benaulim on Sunday evening. Agitated tourist taxi operators expressed their disgust over empty promises given by the government to resolve all outstanding isuses, saying that not a single issue has been satisfactorily resolved by the authorities till date. They pointed out that they had till date met the MLAs, Ministers and even the MPs, but their grievances remains unresolved.
After the meeting, the tourist taxi owners and operators from both the district said they have received no justice from the government authorities and accused the RTO for meting out harassment. "We have decided to go off the road on January 19 because of the injustice meted out by the RTO officials. What we have received from the government are only empty promises and no action", a taxi operator told The Goan.
They pointed out that RTO officials stop the tourist taxi operators at almost every junction while the
authorities turn a blind eye to the thousands of illegal taxis plying in the state. "Our documents are not returned back for months and months together. They delay in issuing the fitness certificates for our vehicles. Harassment is meted out at every steps in our business operation", they contended.
On the controversy surrounding the implementation of speed governors for the tourist taxis, the state government is going ahead with the implementation of the speed governors despite our plea. "We don't want the speed governors as we are certain that we will not get the business. No one will hire our vehicles when customers want us to drop them within a time", a tourist taxi operator said, adding that the tourist taxi operators will oppose the speed governors tooth and nail.
Replying to a question, a taxi operator informed that while the taxis will go off the road on January 9, the question of continuing the agitation indefinite will be taken on January 19 after taking stock of the situation.
