The drama over the taxi meter continues. The government seems to have compiled a list of taxi
drivers who are keen on taking the meter and those who have fitted one. Worryingly
the list of those not interested in taking the meter is worryingly very long.
That could mean their licenses would be cancelled. This would mean these taxi
drivers would not be able to apply for a new license if their existing one was
cancelled. This of course is as per the rules. The taxi driver segment is
pretty substantial on the coast and given that elections are around the corner,
politicians have begun to fret about their future. If things go ahead as
scheduled, they could be in a pickle. People in the hospitality industry had
much to say.
Savio Messias hotelier and one time
president of TTAG had a lot to say about the current state of affairs. He said
“Taxi drivers cannot hold people to ransom. They have to install meters. The
government can invite Uber and Ola. These parties can employ local taxi
drivers. The government was not bringing them in to help the taxi drivers. Uber
and Ola have a different licensing system; they will have to hire Goan cars and
drivers. However they will have to work longer hours which is not wrong. All of
us in business work long hours. The market is changing with the times and we
have to all evolve”.
Another member of the industry, Nilesh
Shah the current President of TTAG felt it was important that the rule of law
ought to be followed. He said “It cannot be a political decision. Your revenue
is dependent on the clients. I request the taxi fraternity to look at this
development in a positive light. With a meter, they can earn more. They cannot
stick to this; it is my way or the highway stance. It does not work”. He said
the government was willing to reimburse the cost of the meter. They had already
allocated Rs 32 crore for this expenditure. The taxi drivers should not be
hesitant. The law has to prevail. The ruling passed by the court he said had to
be passed.
The diversity of views on this subject could be gauged by the
response of Serafin Cotta, President, Small and Medium Hoteliers Association.
He said the government had informed the taxi drivers that taxi licenses would
be cancelled. This meant the government was keen on earning money out of this
business. He said “They are interested in the fees they will earn from people
applying and paying the necessary fees. They are leaving this issue to each MLA
who has an interest in this subject to bluff their way out. With the ruling by
the court, the government is exerting pressure on taxi drivers. All this is
being paid by us the taxpayer”. He said the saddest bit was that this move was
being initiated during the Covid period when business had taken a hit. Many
drivers he said were not even eating two meals a day because business had been
hit and no one was making money. Throwing them the book of rules and
regulations was just not right, he felt.
A senior executive in a five star property had another take.
Ajith Nair Head of Sales and Marketing at the Zuri White sands, Goa Resort and
Casino felt the move to install metres would be a good move for everyone. He
said “I look outside my hotel and I can safely say business has dropped for the
taxis parked outside our hotel. Guests now hire a taxi at the airport and drive
down to the property. I would say as much as thirty percent of guests in our
property drive themselves around for the duration of their stay. That is lost business
for the taxi trade.”
Vincent Carvalho of the South Goa Tourist Association said when
the government talked about the fixing of meters, they started off by saying
they were in the process of framing a scheme for reimbursement of the money
which is to be paid to install the meter. The money he said had not been paid
but the date by which it had to be fixed was already announced. The money he
said would be reimbursed but it would perhaps be in phases. He said “Once they
said it would be Rs 4000, then Rs 6000. When we spoke to Late Mr Parrikar, he
had said that if we were installing a meter, we would have to pay only Rs 1000.
But now, in the second section they are saying there is no difference between a
tourist taxi and a motor cab. A motor cab comes into the public transport
domain. When I applied, it was for a tourist vehicle. I don’t pick anyone on
the road and drop them like in Mumbai or Bengaluru. We are only focused on the
tourists coming to the hotel. A tourist vehicle has a different definition compared
to marking one as a tourist cab”. He said the government was pushing the court
ruling but when they applied for a permit, it clearly states that a gadget has
been provided and the rates cannot collide with the rates charged by other
taxis like Black and white taxis. This rate would be higher than those rates.
Now he said he had a notification which stated that a tourist taxi/motor cab
which was now placing them in the same level. Tourist taxis were interstate and
nowhere in the country did they have meters. Rates were decided on the basis of
kms that had to be covered. He said they were now being brought down to the
level of regular cabs. How, he asked, would they pick up business in this
situation. He also asked if they were being given the meter free of cost why
did he have to invest his money for this. He said they had earlier asked to
install speed governors on vehicles but now they had all been disconnected.
Vincent said they could not compare what happens in Mumbai and Bengaluru and
expect the same in Goa.
It
certainly looks like the last word on this subject has not been spoken or
written. In all this the tourist continues to suffer. One can only hope a
suitable solution is reached at the earliest.
