Team Goemkarponn Desk
VASCO: Members of three major taxi unions recently met Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar on Thursday, submitting a formal memorandum seeking redress for the alleged injustices faced by them at key transportation hubs, including the Goa Airport at Dabolim, Mormugao Port, and Vasco Railway Station. The taxi operators emphasized the urgent need for intervention from Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant before their livelihood concerns escalate into a larger crisis.
The taxi unions raised grievances about the lack of a fair system for securing business at these locations, particularly at the cruise terminal in Sada Harbour, where they claim no proper queue system is in place. According to the operators, this creates an unfair distribution of business, leaving many of them struggling to make ends meet.
MLA Krishna Salkar acknowledged the concerns of the unions and highlighted that taxi operators in Goa are traditional businessmen, primarily operating from Vasco Railway Station, Dabolim Airport, and the Sada Harbour cruise terminal. He reiterated that no one group should monopolize business opportunities at these transport hubs.
“Just because the railway station is in Vasco constituency, it doesn’t mean it’s my personal property. The same goes for the airport and the cruise terminal, which fall under Dabolim and Mormugao constituencies. Every taxi operator deserves a fair opportunity to work from these places,” Salkar said.
” I assured the taxi unions that i would personally bring their concerns to the attention of CM Dr. Pramod Sawant. The unions are particularly troubled by buses taking away potential customers at the cruise terminal when international cruise ships dock . Secondly , some unions do not follow queue system leaving many taxi operators without a single fare for weeks. There is a need for a queue system for all tourism-related activities, including water sports, to ensure fairness and transparency.” Said Salkar
“I have promised the taxi unions that I will address this issue with the CM and involve all MLAs from the taluka to find a proper solution. It is crucial that we ensure all taxi operators get a fair chance to earn a livelihood,” Salkar added.
