PERNEM
The Shiv Warriors Taxi Association has protested against the hike in parking fees at Manohar International Airport in Mopa.
Speaking to news persons, representatives of the association said a joint meeting was held with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and officials of GMR company. It was decided in the meeting that office bearers of the taxi association, the local MLA and local panchayat would be taken into confidence while increasing the rate of parking fees.
“The GMR company has suddenly increased the parking fees without taking any of the stakeholders into confidence. The company has done injustice to the taxi association by suddenly increasing the parking fees from the existing Rs 80 to Rs 200,” said a taxi operator Tulaskar.
“Many locals have lost their land for Mopa airport and they have not been paid yet. Unemployed youth have not been provided jobs and the problems of taxi operators have not been resolved. If the interest of the locals is not looked into and justice is not done then, why do we need this airport,” questioned Tulaskar.
Swapnil Mahale said some unemployed youth have entered the taxi business by availing of bank loans. “The Chief Minister has announced that the youth will become self-reliant, but the GMR company is trying to create hurdles by arbitrarily increasing parking fees. There has been no such increase in parking prices at Dabolim Airport,” said Mahale.
Taxi owner Pradeep Patekar said the Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mauvin Gudino should visit Mopa Airport one day and look into the problems being faced by the taxi owners.
