the goan I network
VASCO
A big number of taxi operators gathered at Dabolim airport on Saturday morning to oppose the rent-a-cab counter which was to be inaugurated by the airport director.
Several taxi operators from across Goa and others affiliated to different taxi unions joined hands to oppose the counter and warned of a mass agitation if the counter was opened.
A large police force was stationed at the airport to prevent any untoward incident.
The taxi operators maintained that this was a peaceful protest with the hope that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant would intervene in the matter to stop the counter which could kill their business and source of livelihood.
The taxi operators also appealed to all MLAs to support them to close the counter planned to operated from Dabolim airport and save their livelihood from outsiders who are running taxi business at Goa airport.
They felt that if a car is given on hire at the airport, tourists would use the service and roam around with the car in Goa, thus directly affecting their business.
“We are hopeful that all legislators, including all four BJP legislators from Mormugao taluka, will stand with us in our fight against the counter. We are all gathered today and we belong to different unions and a mix of yellow black and tourist taxis. But we are united solely in the larger interest of saving our livelihoods,” said Eknath Palkar, President of United Taximen Union
Added Anil Naik, President of Yellow Black Taxi Association: “I request Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to intervene in the matter and resolve the issue. We have had two meetings with the CM who had assured to resolve the issue by bringing all parties on one platform. We also want to tell the airport counter contractor not to open the counter at the airport.”
Nitesh Chodankar, Vice-president of North Goa Rent-a-Cab Association said all associations would unite to agitate against the inauguration of the counter at the Airport. “The contractor is an outsider and should not be allowed to eat into the livelihood of Goans. He already has around 70 cars operating at the airport and if he starts grabbing all the business by getting another counter, we will have no option but to come out on the roads and agitate,” said Chodankar.
