MARGAO
As touting continues unabated, coupled with the illegal plying of taxis as rent-a-cars near the Margao railway station, Margao Traffic Cell officials rushed to the station on Saturday to take stock of the situation and initiate action.
The issue came to the fore when a group of taxi operators caught a tourist taxi allegedly operating illegally as a rent-a-car outside the railway station. They immediately alerted the authorities, including the Margao Traffic Cell and Margao police, to rein in the illegal operators affecting the livelihood of genuine and licensed taxi operators.
Margao Traffic Cell in-charge PI Sanjay Dalvi told the media that the tourist taxi had changed its number plate to ply as a rent-a-car in violation of the rules. He promised strict action, including penalties under the rules in force.
Licensed taxi operators at the Margao railway station alleged that a group of pilots were operating illegally at the station, affecting their livelihood and business. “We have lodged complaints with the concerned authorities, including the RTO, Traffic Police and Margao police. Today, we caught a tourist taxi operator red-handed for illegally converting his taxi into a rent-a-car. This must stop immediately in the interest of tourists as well as legal taxi operators,” they demanded.
