PANJIM: A possible toughening of attitudes towards drinking and driving in the state may result in an increasing number of people using the services of taxi companies when they go out to party.
The statement by the CM that he intended to soon install alcometers outside pubs and taverns may indicate that the state may now be coming in line with cities like Mumbai which have a no tolerance policy for such behaviour.
Joey Car rentals based in Panjim has been a beneficiary of the gradual change in attitude of the average Goan consumer with executives answering calls over the weekend for taxi hires to places like Baga and Calangute. R Dinesh a manager at the company said the company answers around 15-20 calls over Friday, Saturday and Sunday for taxi hires to the beach belt.
He said “These calls emanate from Donna Paula and Miramar. It is not seasonal. Many of them are locals and yes we also have people from other parts of the country who have used such services.”
This however may not be the experience of other taxi companies. Dinesh Sadre of Goa Taxi Company said that such calls were few and far between.
He said “We answer hundreds of calls everyday and this increases during the season. We service around 70 to 80 customers a day and the odd one who wants a taxi because he or she wishes to visit the tourist belt in the night to party”.
Asked why people were not using the services when they went out to party he felt it was perhaps the rules were not enforced which meant people could get away with driving while inebriated. The decision to install alcometers would certainly help change attitudes.
Palemon Lobo a resident of the Colva belt felt it was due to the fact that taxi rates were very high in Goa. He said “In Mumbai you may have to pay a slight premium to avail of such services but in Goa you are paying a premium over what is possibly the most expensive rates in the country. Why would you pay Rs 2000 odd for a two way trip when your bill at the restaurant or pub may be Rs 1000-1500. It does not make sense to a lot of people.”
He felt that with taxi drivers refusing to reduce rates it would be difficult to see something similar happening in the state. He however felt that if the police cracked down hard then one would be able to see a lot of changes. The fine of Rs 2000, he said had to be enforced and perhaps even jailing some people to push home the point.
Ravindra Vengulekar the VP of the North Goa taxi owners association felt that with over 2000 taxi owners in the north it would be the odd taxi owner who would get such calls. Asked if this was also due to the fact that the taxi rates were the highest in the country he said it was a matter of economics and they were not to be blamed.
The final word perhaps should go to Baba of Pyramid taxi services who said “10% of people are interested in such services and yes most of them are domestic tourist who use such services perhaps over a period of time Goans will also see the benefit of using such a service and every one will benefit. Maybe as there will be more business there will be a reduction in prices and yes less accidents.”
