MARGAO
The war between GoaMiles and tourist taxi operators seemed heating up along Salcete countryside with agitated tourist taxi operators on Thursday demanding action against GoaMiles for parking their taxis in the villages after dropping the customers.
The uproar against GoaMiles was heard along Salcete coastal belt throughout Thursday. First, a group of tourism stakeholders, under the banner of South Goa Tourism Stakeholders called on South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes at the district Collectorate to take up cudgels for the beleaguered taxi operators against the activities of GoaMiles.
Another group of tourist taxi operators from Salcete coastal belt had a meeting at the office of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas with a representative of GoaMiles and Colva police station in-charge, PI Satish Padwalkar.
Tourist taxi operators from Cavelossim and other places led by Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz and Warren Alemao also called on the Colva police to demand that GoaMiles should not pick up guests from the taxi stands at the hotels.
South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes promised to take up the issue of the tourist taxi operators, saying plying tourist taxis and running shacks and other small tourism business has been part of Goa culture.
He promised to raise the issue of the tourist taxi operators at every forum to protect their interests.
Joint meet held between local operators, GoaMiles and MLA Venzy to resolve issue
At a joint meeting between Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and the taxi stakeholders including the tourist taxi operators and GoaMiles, it was decided that the GoaMiles taxis should not park their vehicles in villages after dropping customers.
The meeting has been called against the backdrop of recent incidents threatening to snowball into major law and order problems along the coastal belt. Local tourist taxi operators pointed out that GoaMiles taxis are found parked near the village churches after dropping customers, claiming the taxis pick up guests from the hotels leaving them high and dry.
MLA Venzy demanded that the Colva police rein in on GoaMiles who are found parking illegally at the public places since these taxis are supposed to move and not remain stationary. He demanded with the representative of the GoaMiles that drivers found illegally parking their vehicles near the churches and close to the starred hotels should be terminated immediately.
Venzy demanded that the Transport Department take cognisance of the illegal activities of GoaMiles, saying the local tourist taxi operators will not tolerate illegal pick up of guests by the GoaMiles.
Tourist taxi operators from Cavelossim and other places along Salcete coastal belt led by Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz called on the Colva police on Thursday and demanded a stop to GoaMiles from picking up guests from the hotels.
The Cavelossim Sarpanch later told the media that the government should ensure that GoaMiles should not pick up guests from the hotels, saying this will leave the local taxi operators high and dry without any business.
Saying Cavelossim village plays host to around 48 small, medium and big hotels, Dixon said that GoaMiles should be barred from picking up customers from hotels which has stand for the local tourist taxi operators.
Warren Alemao also extended his support to the local tourist taxi operators saying the entry of GoaMiles, if allowed, will spell doom for the local tourist taxi operators.
