the goan I network
PORVORIM
The Association of Tourist Taxi Owners Goa (ATTOG) has hit out at Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo for his comments on a separate app-based taxi service without taking them into confidence.
Addressing a news conference in Sangolda on Saturday, ATTOG President Chetan Kamat said Lobo had never discussed the issue with the association regard the setting up of a separate taxi-based app service.
“He has made the statement on his own and the association is not in agreement with his statement at all. He should have discussed the issue with the association before making such statements,” said Kamat.
“In the first place, GoaMiles taxi app is illegal and hence, the government has to shut down it immediately before starting discussions with the association. Secondly, creating a new app requires crores of rupees and who will bear this expenditure? The Association had sought time with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for discussions on this issue on three occasions, but in vain,” said Kamat.
Seeking to discredit the app-based taxi service, Kamat said the app service works on a point-to-point basis, while the government approved rates are on a kilometre basis.
“Going by the app, taxi operators would find it difficult to charge tourists for package tours and many tourists request taxi operators to show them importance places in North and South Goa. In such circumstances, how are taxi operators to charge if an app service is adopted,” asked Kamat.
The ATTOG president also questioned the government approved rates for taxi operators.
“The Goa Government taxi rates are based on the gazette of 2014 and has not revised the rates since then. We had requested the government to display fare charts at bus stands, coastal belts near hotels, city taxi stands, etc. so that tourists could study the fares and book taxis accordingly.”
“If a tourist taxi operator is found charging exorbitant rates and not as per the notified rates, then tourists can register their complaint with the government or tourist taxi owners association,” said Kamat. Other taxi operators were also present at the news conference.
