Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), on Friday objected to the allegations from the Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT) against the app-based taxi service Goa Miles.
GTDC reiterated that the new app-based service is in the interest of Goa and the Goan taxi operators and would appreciate support from the taxi operators rather than them working to oppose it.
“GTDC acknowledges the fact that tourists and local passengers were facing hardships over the current taxi operations in Goa and sought to ease out transportation woes using technology. We have no intentions to dislodge the existing operators and instead would appeal to them to look at the positive side both for the tourism industry and the taxi operations by joining hands with GTDC in the new initiative. It is purely a voluntary exercise for those in need of sustainable business opportunities,” GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said.
He added, “GTDC has clearly envisaged all the challenges and has given itself two months to settle all the teething problems. We would like to take the support of all taxi operators and Goenkars and the GTDC wants everyone’s support to make this initiative successful.”
GTDC also said that CRT should not fall prey to the machinations of few unscrupulous taxi operators who have maligned the tourism industry of the State.
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‘Not against Goamiles app per se’
VASCO: The yellow black taxi operators on Friday clarified that they are not against the Goamiles app but are against the booking and operation of this taxi service in the places of their taxis. The yellow black taxi operators spoke to media after attending a joint meeting with all four MLAs of Mormugao, Agacaim MLA Francis Silveira and the GTDC Chairman and directors regarding the ongoing airport taxi issue. President of the United Taximen Association Sanjay Naik said that the taxi operators are not against the Goamiles app but are against the way it is being operated at the airport counter.
