Team Herald
PANJIM: The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will hold a meeting with the stakeholders to review the functioning of the newly commissioned Manohar International Airport (MIA) on Tuesday, January 10.
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The first flight landed at MIA on Thursday, January 5 after which the airport commenced domestic operations. The airport functioning on day one witnessed several initial glitches.
Speaking to media persons, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that with just three days since the airport started functioning, there are bound to have some teething problems. “We are gathering all the information about these problems and will meet chief minister on Tuesday, who will hold a review meeting,” he said.
Khaunte informed that the meeting will be also attended by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, taxi operators, GMR and other tourism stakeholders.
“The meeting is called to review and streamline thing,” he said.
When asked about a viral photograph showing taxi, hired through, Goa Taxi App, charging passengers whopping fares at the airport, Khaunte said he has taken a note of the photo showing a taxi charging Rs 4,000 for journey between the airport and Benaulim.
“The fare paid by the passenger is as per the rates notified by the Directorate of Transport,” he said informing that Goa Electronics Limited (GEL), the promoter of the Goa Taxi App has been asked to submit a detailed report by Monday on total number of passengers traveled, vehicles registered and also about the viral bill.
A taxi bill allegedly of a passenger who booked the taxi through Goa Taxi app amounting to Rs 4,148 for a 65.86 Km ride from Mopa Airport to Benaulim was doing round on social media on Saturday. Netizens from across the globe have reacted very sharply to the steep taxi service charges in the state and have claimed that they are higher than airfare.
Other options such as buses of state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited are also available for passengers, the Minister said adding that the bus will drop the passengers to Colva Beach (70 km) for Rs 500 per person.
The state government is open to all kinds of suggestions, including reduction in taxi fares, if they are found to be exorbitant, he added.
