PANAJI
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho held a meeting with the taxi operators and tried to bring them on board to end their strike, but they refused to hold back their agitation until GoaMiles app is scrapped.
The Transport Minister Godhino, however, went on to claim that the meeting was positive. The Minister said he will have another round of talks with the taxi operators after 10 days.
Stating that government is sympathetic to the Goan taximen who are in business for a long time, Godinho appealed to them to have faith in the government and suspend their agitation at least for one month.
He urged them to give some time to the government to take a proper decision. However, taxi operators refused to do so.
The Transport Minister explained to the taximen that the government will make digital meters compulsory to the taxis and once the meters are fitted 80 percent problems of transparency and reasonable fares will be solved.
However, the taxi operators stressed GoaMiles should be scrapped at which the minister told them it wasn’t possible because of legal repercussions.
The Minister reiterated his stand that an app was needed for transparent, reliable and cheap transport and one day or the other the taxi operators will have to fall in line.
Godinho suggested that digital meters having a facility of point-to-point charge will be the best alternative to an app-based system as it can be linked with an app-based booking service also.
He said that digital meters will be made compulsory for the
GoaMiles taxis also.
He said that the initial cost of digital meters will be borne by the government. The government will refund 50 percent of the cost at the time of installation and the remaining 50 percent will be refunded after one year.
He said that one of two counters at the airport will be given to black and yellow taxi operators, while another counter will be given to Kadamba transport corporation.
Godinho said he tried to explain to the taxi operators that they are losing people’s support due to their arrogant attitude.
The Minister said since there is no revision of tourist taxi fares since 2013, the state transport authority has to hike the same. Also, there has to be a dynamic price system to increase the fare prices during season time, he added.
