OLD GOA
Several taxi owners held a meeting at Sai Baba Temple hall at Kaxamba Plateau on Tuesday to oppose the move by the government to do away with badges for taxi drivers.
Opining that such move is being planned to favour the app-based taxi operators, the taxi owners expressed fears that it would prove death knell for the local taxi owners who still have control over the business.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sudip Tamankar said there was a review meeting with regards to transport in which the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and several officials participated.
“However, we as stakeholders were not invited for the meeting but owners of app-based taxi operators like Ola, Uber were invited,” Tamnkar said, while condemning such move.
Tamankar further said at the meeting, a decision was taken to put into motion the process of doing away with badges for taxi drivers.
“This move is to favour the app-based taxi aggregators so that they could bring drivers from outside the State to drive their taxis in Goa, where currently badge is compulsory for taxi drivers,” Tamankar said.
“At today’s meeting, we have decided to vehemently oppose any such move as it would threaten the local taxi drivers as 15 years domicile certificate, character certificate, police report, etc. are required for availing badges,” he stated.
Tamankar further said that to oppose the move, taxi owners from all over the State will assemble at Azad Maidan and hold a one-day agitation on the issue, the date for which would be announced later.
When questioned what would be their course of action if the government goes ahead with the move, Tamankar said they would approach the courts for legal remedy.
Taxi operator Bappa Korgaonkar said the badge is the identity of the local taxi drivers, which they are not going to allow to be taken away.
Korgaonkar also demanded that the waiting time for taxis at Mopa Airport which is currently only 5 minutes should be extended to 25 minutes, as 5 minutes is too less a time to pick up and drop the tourists.Taxi owners Chetan Kamat, Sunil Naik and others also spoke on the occasion.
