HERALD: Don’t you think because of taxi issues, the image of Goa’s tourism is getting tarnished?
Vinayak Nanoskar: It is a stunt of hoteliers and the TTAG and they want to get in Ola and Uber cab in Goa. These people are hand in glove with these Ola and Uber cab operators. At many places local tourist taxi operators have protest against these operators. We are simply targeted by the tourism body, is there any police complaint against us?
HERALD: Why do you (taxi operators) always come on streets and threaten to go on strikes?
VN: Wherever there is a problem with the system, if something is going against the interest of the employees or traders, the people are protesting. It is not that taxi operators don’t want install meters and GPS. But we are saying first make everything proper and then go for installation. Even government employees have also been on strikes, don’t we have any right to go on strike? We are protesting in a demand and for our livelihood. It is a conspiracy against Goan taxi operators by hoteliers.
HERALD: What is the basic reason you are opposing taxi meters and GPS system to the taxis?
VN: There are already 3,000 taxis that have installed the taxi meters. Is it working? Do the government have a proper fare chart? Have they done any study in this regards? We are not opposing the meters, but we are opposing the method adopted by government to implement. Just for the sake of High Court order they want to implement it, but we as a taxi union want everything to be streamlined. We don’t like people and tourist saying we are looting them. We are not looting tourists, the hoteliers are looting them.
HERALD: Don’t the taxi operators overcharge tourist arriving in the state?
VN: No, we are not overcharging beyond the prescribed fares, only hoteliers are overcharging them over their stay in Goa. Beer which is sold at Rs 30 in local bars is charged Rs 300 in big hotels, why only we are blamed. Government has to understand, taxi operators have different class of taxis, so an uniform fare for all vehicles won’t work.
HERALD: Essentially, what are your demands?
VN: Stop all illegal businesses, 30,000 to 40,000 bikes are illegally given on rent, almost 8,000 private vehicles are also given on rent for self drive. We demand that all this must be stopped. Make proper infrastructure and planning before implementing the digital meters and GPS.
