PANAJI
Nearly two weeks after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant promised consultations before finalising a new taxi policy, the taxi operators’ association says it has almost lost hope. They accuse the government of staying “deaf and mute” to their concerns.
North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president Vasudev Arlekar, a strong critic of the government, alleged that officials were ignoring operators’ grievances and allowing outsiders to take over the trade.
“The government has shut its eyes and ears to our issues, grievances and suggestions. We have nearly given up. They are taking away local drivers’ bread-and-butter and giving it to outsiders to rule over Goa’s traditional business,” Arlekar told The Goan.
Earlier this month, he even suggested that the government take over the taxis completely and run them.
“The government thinks we are richer than the world’s biggest tycoons. That’s why they are tightening the noose without understanding the ground reality,” he said.
Taxi operators had staged a protest outside the Legislative Assembly on September 10 against the proposed policy. On that day, Sawant urged drivers not to “waste time,” saying the draft would be shared in detail with 20-21 representatives before being finalised. He also said the September 10 deadline for releasing the draft was only tentative.
“They should trust the government and not waste time. They will be fully consulted before we finalise the draft,” Sawant was quoted as saying.
So far, the association says, no such consultation has taken place.
On August 22, the government had announced that it would scrap the draft Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, and replace them with a new State Taxi Policy.
At that meeting, attended by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and other officials, operators were told to form a 10-member committee to present their grievances, which would be included in the new draft.
