VIBHA VERMA

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PANJIM: The North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association’s threat to once again hit the streets if the Kadamba Transport Corporation launches its cab service in Goa, has not gone down well with the government authorities particularly the Transport Department, which has vowed to crack down on the agitators. 

At the Association’s last meeting held at Calangute, the North Goa tourist taxi owners have warned the government against testing their patience and threatened to once again come on the streets if the KTC launches its cab service in Goa.  

Reacting to the taxi owners’ stand, a senior transport official said, “If they resort to street violence, we will not hesitate to take action against them and file complaints under the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act. They cannot take law in their hands”. 

The department is loud and clear that the taxi app service and the installation of digital meters will certainly come into force. 

“The taxi app service will be implemented, and government is serious about it. Similarly, the digital meters too. These are the need of the hour. We will not bow down to pressure,” he said. 

The taxi operators have been complaining about the alleged harassment meted out by the RTO officials, which was cited as another reason why they had paralysed the business for nearly three days last month. However, the Transport Department has denied the allegation claiming they are cracking down on the violators. 

“We are cracking down on the violators in the ongoing drive. They will face the music notwithstanding the threat… If they talk of harassment, they are wrong. The action is against illegalities and it will continue,” the officer said. 

Last month when over 20,000 tourist taxis were off roads over the mandatory installation of speed governors the Transport Department supported by Goa Tourism Development Corporation and the KTC had chalked out a water tight plan to handle the crisis. Hundreds of vehicles including KTC’s local and interstate buses were pressed into service to ensure the passengers, majority of whom are tourists do not face any hardship. The success of the pilot project has led the government to bring in taxi app service with the KTC too planning to introduce cabs. 

Even after government agreeing to give them a six-month breather on the installation of speed governors, the taxi operators’ recent meeting to protest the government’s new initiatives - another bid to “pressurise” government to bow down to their unending demands - has also been criticised by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG). 

TTAG President Savio Messias has slammed the taxi operators for often taking tourism to ransom through their agitations. 

“We at TTAG are trying our best to improve tourism facilities and create a better atmosphere in the State while working towards its growth. The taxi drivers seem hell bent on destroying tourism with their constant threats and behaviour,” he said. 

“During the recent turmoil in the Maldives, a country depending totally on tourism, I am told the tourists were well taken care of and looked after as they understood that tourists should not be put to inconvenience. Wish our taxi drivers would behave in a similar fashion rather than keep threatening,” he added. 

Political backing is said to be one of the reasons for the rise in “unauthorised” demands of the taxi drivers. 

Former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira is among those who have blamed the political patronage resulting in continuous attack on the government. 

“Their (taxis) demands are unwarranted. First of all they do not know what they are asking for. When they are opposing installation of a gadget, they should see the Supreme Court order. Why are they asking the government to resolve the issue when the order is from the court? And politicians who want votes are supporting to the (unwanted) demands,” he informed Herald. 

Stating that tourism is one major industry where many are dependent on, Sequeira expressed his fear that if such crisis continues then the dependents would lose their bread and butter. 

Ruling legislator from Calangute Michael Lobo, who has always stood for the traditional businesses and is currently guiding the taxi operators on their demands, has rubbished allegations claiming that genuine issues should be addressed. 

Speaking to Herald, he said since there is no proper forum to address the grievances of the taxi operators, it results into a tense moment. 

“If they are giving threats (to hold strike/agitation), it is because some of their legitimate demands are not sorted by the government. For example, enforcement of speed governors is without fulfilling their other demands. For last many years, the taxi operators’ different issues have not come to any logical conclusion,” he said. 

Asked whether it was right to hold the State to ransom and threaten each time to meet their demands, Lobo, who is also the Deputy Speaker, said that he has advised the taxi operators to petition government on their demands. 

“I have asked them to draft a petition to be submitted to CMO and the Chief Secretary. Let all their demands be addressed through a meeting with heads of concerned government departments headed by CM. I will propose Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) to allow such a meeting wherein a report will be submitted to him, so that issues are addressed,” Lobo added. 

Meanwhile, reliable sources have confirmed that the Airports Authority of India has offered all support to the government to start with ‘any transport system.’ The assurance comes after the stakeholders conveyed about constant strikes by the tourist taxi operators while also citing inconvenience to flight passengers. With KTC introducing additional buses during the taxi operators’ strike period last month, it now intends to permanently add more to the existing fleet. The AAI has reportedly assured to subsidise the cost of bus operations.