PERNEM: The tourist taxi operators on Friday reiterated their demand that the government scrap the GoaMiles app-based taxi service. Failing which, they have threatened to go on a strike by keeping their vehicles off the road.

At a meeting of All Goa Tourist Taxi Association and All Goa Yellow Black Taxi Association, held at Pernem, the taxi operators requested the chief minister and transport department to scrap the Goa-Miles App.

Addressing the taxi drivers, President of All Goa Tourist Taxi Association Chetan Kamat said, “This is our last meeting requesting the government to scrap the Goa Miles App. However, if the government fails to take a decision on the subject in the next two days, then, we will announce our final plan. It can be that all the 33,000 taxi drivers will go off the road”.

Taxi operator Bappa Korgaonkar said, “GoaMiles is a virus and it can be totally erased only if all 33,000 drivers go off the road. The government is claiming that there are Goans who are driving taxis of GoaMiles. However, the government should scrutinise and see how many Goans are working for GoaMiles. Leaving aside 4 or 5 people, all others are outsiders. We are ready to support the government if it provides jobs to all the 33,000 drivers. There are no jobs with the government, because of which we started our own business. And now when we have become self-employed, government is snatching our livelihood.”

“We request the government to discuss with us and get our problem solved. Otherwise, we will be left with only one option, coming out on street by keeping our vehicles off the road till our problems are solved. And along with tourist taxi owners and yellow black taxi owners, I also appeal to private taxi owners, private buses, private travelers and rickshaw to support us by going off road and if someone is found going against us then it won’t be our responsibility. It is high time that the ‘Swabhimani Goenkar’ rise up and stand for goenkarpon,” he said.

Asserting that taxi owners and drivers are not a mafia, Vice president of All Goa Yellow Black Taxi Association Sudesh Naik, said, “If taxi owners, drivers are a mafia then who are those who are involved in tourism industry? There are rates fixed by the government and as per the rates given by the government, customers are charged. These rates were fixed by the government in the year 2012 and till today no change is made. Today, the prices of petrol, diesel and every other product have gone up, but the taxi charges are still the same as they were in 2012. There is tax, insurance and many other expenses which we pay off. If the taxi drivers go through so much then how can we be mafia? We want the government to solve our problems for our better future.” 

Sunil Naik said, “There are around 33,000 taxi drivers in Goa. However, not only the taxi drivers but the whole of Goa is against GoaMiles since people are aware what these drivers from other states do.”

Cuchorem MLA Alexio Reginaldo and Sachin Parab also addressed the meeting.