VASCO: Raising objections to the proposed car rental services at Dabolim Airport, the United Taximen Association (association of taxi operators at Dabolim Airport) on Monday threatened to go on strike if Airports Authority of India (AAI) allows car rental services to operate from the airport.
Addressing newsmen at Dabolim Airport, association president Sanjay Naik claimed that before 2012 there were three taxi counters – STC taxi service, yellow back and tourist taxi services – operating from Dabolim airport, however, due to support of the then and current Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar the STC counter was removed and both the taxi associations (yellow black and tourist taxis) combined to operate under single window taxi counter.
He said that Parrikar had then assured he would not allow any more taxi counters at the airport, however, bypassing the government, Airport Authority of India (AAI) Goa airport officials are trying to introduce STC type car rental service.
“If AAI tries to move ahead with its decision and if proposed car rental services commence operations then we will be forced to go on strike,” Naik warned.
Legal counsel and general secretary of United Taximen Association Adv Herculano Dourado said, “Under the Motor Vehicle Act there is nothing like car rental services. We met RTO officials with our grievance and it was confirmed that there is no permission issued by RTO to start any car rental service at airport,” Dourado said.
He added, “We were told to digitalise our operations we did, we were told to comply with other things, we complied. It is unfair on part of AAI to allow a private party to operate taxis but in a different name. We have already placed our issue before BJP MLAs from Mormugao as well as South Goa MP. We would also meet AAI Director to question him as to why is not allotting us a counter when we are running legal service and why AAI gave a counter to a private party to run illegal business,” he said.
