NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Stating that the local taxi operators have the capability to operate their own taxis digitally, the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association (NGTTOA) has threatened to hold a strike, if the government allows the entry of mobile app driven cabs such as Uber, Ola and others into the state.
The reaction by the taxi association came after an e-petition filed by an NRI of Goan origin Mahesh Sardesai demanding that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar facilitate the entry of Ola and Uber cab services into Goa, as taxi operators do not use meters and charge exorbitant rates for their services.
The association members say they will demand conceptualization of the earlier plan of the tourism department to introduce the smartphone app to be operated by the association so that tourists can hire local taxis at the click of a button. However, the association members said that this would be done after having a consultative meeting with the Chief Minister on revising fare and ensuring that every taxi operator generates repeat business.
The then director of tourism Ameya Abhayankar, in 2015, had planned to develop two apps, one was to be meant for the user and the other for the tourist taxi operators to maintain transparency and enable smooth operation.
Criticizing the petitioner, members of the NGTTOA have alleged that the petitioner is an NRI and questioned how he can accuse taxi operators without carrying out any survey or speaking to the association members to know about the difficulties faced by them while running the business.
“We will not allow the entry of any private cab operating companies. We have the support of all the ministers of Goa Forward Party and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, who have shown their concern because we have raised issues that cater to our livelihood,” said vice president of NGTTOA Ravindra Vengurlekar.
The association further attributed the loss of business to poor management of taxi operation, infighting among taxi operators and lack of government support.
Earlier, the opposition led by the taxi operators against the move of the transport department to harness technology on taxi operations in the state so as to provide better customer service and improve profitability, be it by introducing fare meter, GPS tracking device or lifting up moratorium on rent a cab to provide options to traveller, has only suggested that the taxi community wanted to create monopoly to set any price it wants.
Stating that the taxi operators do not overcharge their customers, as they mostly prefer point-to-point fare rather than the kilometer-based fare, the vice president of NGTTOA said, “We are well aware of people accusing us for overcharging but we have no Goans as our customers. Our customers are only tourists and they mostly prefer point-to-point fare, as they don’t like paying kilometer-based fare that includes the return fare.”
He said that the people have gathered the attention of the government on overcharging by taxi operators while neglecting the price rise in other sectors. “In the past, 25 years ago, when there was lack of transport facilities, people used to travel by taxi, but now every person has a two-wheeler. So there is hardly anybody who hires a taxi and we manage to earn only Rs 3 per kilometre after excluding all the expenses,” he said.