MAPUSA
Local taxi owners on Sunday warned that they would not take things lying down if the State government forced app-based aggregators in the State.
The taxi owners also said that the GoaMiles drivers were harassing them by lodging fake complaints at police stations.
“The government wants to destroy the business of the local taxi owners by promoting outside aggregators. We will never allow this. We will strongly oppose the Ola and Uber aggregators. If the government forces its way through then we will park all our taxis at the Mopa airport,” said Yogesh Govekar, a taxi owner of Anjuna.
Transport Minister, Mauvin Godinho on Saturday said that app-based taxis will start in the State after Mopa international airport becomes operational.
Speaking further, Govekar said the government was misusing its machinery to harass the taxi owners by filing false complaints against them.
The taxi owners had gathered at the Anjuna Police Station after a GoaMiles driver filed a complaint against one of them for harassment.
Govekar further said the taxi owners were slogging for their livelihood queuing up in front of the hotels day in and day out.
“We have our families to look after. Does the government want us to beg for a living?” he asked.
He said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been stressing on Atma Nirbar Bharath and Swayampurna Goem but wants to bring outside aggregators in the State ignoring the local taxi owners who have families to look after.
Taxi owner, Satyavan Naik said that they will not remain silent spectators on the government move to introduce outsider cab aggregators and there was no question of them joining any app-based aggregators.
“If justice is to be given to the local taxi owners then the government should launch a toll free app displaying the rates and maintaining transparency and then only decide on bringing app aggregators. We will not join any app aggregator,” Naik said.
He said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has time and again ditched the taxi owners with his false promises.
“We have not got any justice in the promises made by Michael Lobo. He should first show what he has done for us and then speak,” he said.
Naik said the government should take all taxi owners into confidence while deciding to bring the aggregators/app-based taxis in the State.
“They should circulate a detailed note amongst the people on the plans and the way forward,” he said.
A GoaMiles taxi driver had lodged a complaint of harassment against a local taxi owner on Saturday.
The local taxi owners had visited the Anjuna Police Station on Sunday in connection with that complaint.
“We have been called by the investigating officer on Monday,” the taxi owners said.
