Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
Agreed, all this happens, but the politicians and police corruption is a legal issue and has to be substantiated by evidence, and whoever has evidence is free to file a complaint.
Now the other contentions, airlines overcharging – yes, agreed airlines sometimes charge more than 5 to 6 times the normal fare, but people have the option of other modes of transport like train and bus. Nobody is being forced to travel by only flights.
Even hotels and restaurants it is optional; there are options for budget hotels and restaurants. Do you taxikars give any options to passengers?
Taxi operators opposed bus service to the airport from Calangute; They do not want bus service to the airport from anywhere else. The plans for the metro are being opposed. So, basically, they want the cake and eat it too… Right?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
“We don’t want app-based taxis, and we also do not want to work hard. We want to rest after making four trips a day.” If this statement by the taxis does not shake the Government and Dr Pramod Sawant, nothing else will.
What do the taxi operators mean when they say that they want monopoly at the Mopa airport and at the same time, they will decide when the passenger will ride to their destination. Is there any sense in such a statement that we do not want to work hard?
Earlier this week, I just happened to speak to a taxi operator who argued why only taxis are blamed for tourism’s downfall.
“The politicians and police are doing so much corruption, the airlines sometimes charge 10 times more, the hotels keep changing their rates, the beach shacks and restaurants are looting customers. Is that not hurting our tourism? Why should only taxis be blamed?” were his exact words.
Agreed, all this happens, but the politicians and police corruption is a legal issue and has to be substantiated by evidence, and whoever has evidence is free to file a complaint.
Now the other contentions, airlines overcharging – yes, agreed airlines sometimes charge more than 5 to 6 times the normal fare, but people have the option of other modes of transport like train and bus. Nobody is being forced to travel by only flights.
Even hotels and restaurants it is optional; there are options for budget hotels and restaurants. Do you taxikars give any options to passengers?
Taxi operators opposed bus service to the airport from Calangute; They do not want bus service to the airport from anywhere else. The plans for the metro are being opposed. So, basically, they want the cake and eat it too… Right?
Today, as we travel across the country and the globe, we do not see such a monopoly anywhere. Why only Goa be an exception?
Why are they scared of app-based taxis? Simply because you do not want to work hard. Forget four trips; the taxi drivers in Goa want just one sightseeing trip and then want to settle down. They have no intention of hard work.
Despite this dadagiri and big talks, the Sawant government has not taken any steps to tackle such behaviour.
Yes, it is purely vote-bank politics that has kept the Dr Pramod Sawant government from taking a tough stand against the taxi operators, who are taking the customers for a good ride.
The Government must not repeat past mistakes and should make it quite clear that electric buses will ply from New Mopa Airport to every popular destination in Goa. The State government has every right to do that for the sake of the tourists and passengers.
Why should the tourists have only one option of taxis? Why not buses? If the Government is serious, it must also look at teh option of Metro from Mopa to Calangute, Mopa-Dabolim and Mopa to Margao.
Today with a vehicle in every household, the Goan roads are getting saturated despite the widening and 4/6-lanning. With rising prices of fuel, every Goan is now looking at the option of public transport or taxis, but the people cannot afford taxis.
It is high time the Government takes a firm stand on the taxi issue.
Leaders like Michael Lobo and Sankalp Amonkar, who support such behaviour, are doing a grave injustice to Goans, Tourists and their dependents.
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