BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
Goa Tourism launched Goa Miles, first app based taxi service in the State on August 6 at the State Secretariat heralding a change in the commute of a traveller in a taxi within the State .
Altaf Shaikh, General Secretary, Margao Tourist Taxi Association, in the wake of the government’s initiation of the novel App states that it is too early to say anything. “Our business is non-existent. We have 40 tourist taxis under our Association. The hotel (Margao Residency) is empty. We depend largely on tourism. Primarily our services are to the railway station, bus stand and rarely to the airport. “To provide a drop from Margao to the airport, we follow similar charges given by the Government Gazette from the airport to Margao which is Rs 850. But from the airport, our taxis return empty as the airport located taxis, do not allow us to pick any passenger on our return trip,” stated an aggrieved Shaikh. “Meanwhile, we charge Rs. 150 for a drop to the railway station (1.9 km away),” he added. “We are here (near Margao Residency) sometimes as late as 10 pm as we may get to drop passengers to the airport. We are aware of others functioning as taxi drivers in the vicinity illegally. It is nothing new and it occurs the world over. I have known it to happen in London, I have seen it happen in Saudi. The Margao MLA will support them because it is his vote-bank,” he asserted.
Mehboob, another taxi driver had this to say. “The App will not work. It is a one-sided business. We sometimes may have to drop passengers to forested places like Valpoi or Sanguem. But who will come on a return trip? It is a one-side loss,” he pointed out.
“I have read in the papers that these private company cab drivers like Ola outrage the modesty of women. In my 30 years as a taxi driver, has there been any complaint against me at the police station? Have I said anything out of hand to a lady customer or molested anyone,” Sanjay Naik countered.
“Without a badge that was scrapped, a month ago, anybody can drive”, stated another. “An office-goer having a taxi can drive after work. This app is only commission business,” another argued.
“What has happened to the much heralded women drivers initiated concept. It has only fizzled out,” sarcastically said a taxi driver.
Now, 69 and a former President of the Association, Francis Cardoz is a highly respected member of their community. “I have been in this profession for the last 50 years but there has been no change for the better. There has only been corruption. I am a Portuguese man, they ruled better than the Government of today which is only getting worse,” a visibly chagrined Cardoz stated. Another taxi driver speaking up for Cardoz added, “If he was a Government driver, he would have received a pension. But given that he is not, he is not availing of any benefits despite the fact that he is a senior citizen.”
Intervening at this point, Cardoz divulged that he once went to meet the State CM to voice his thoughts on their predicament. “I met Parrikar to express my views. But he has done nothing. He was only putting pen to paper. I took the pen from him and asked; whatever I have said will be taken into account, and demanded a yes or no,” said an outspoken Cardoz.
The group of taxi drivers outside the Margao Residency, revealed that even neighbouring Residencies have been taken over by private parties. “There are our customers who wish our services from a resort they may be put up to the city, but the monopoly at the resort is such that we can only drop off our passengers to these resorts, and not pick them up,” another retorted.
On the other hand, Jhovy Pereira, speaking to this paper relates a bad experience travelling by tourist taxi. “Taxi at the resorts are like mafia, they have monopoly at the resorts and charge exorbitant rates. I have been made to shell out Rs 2500 from Utorda to Old Goa. They do not allow any other taxi to come to the resorts,” he lamented. Interestingly travelling by air has cost him as much. “I remember coming from Mumbai to Goa by Air Vistara, and the ticket was priced Rs. 2500 online,” Pereira stated. “We should have Ola or any other taxi companies with meter rates in Goa,” he averred.
