So now, Goa’s tourist taxi lobby wants Rs 12,000 a month for each taxi owner/driver to tide over COVID linked employment losses. Are they the only ones who have faced such losses? It’s a question that needs no answers. They have also asked for masks and gloves, in case they decide, at all, to ferry passengers.The state government has to decide how to proceed with this. As in do they want to listen to the taxi drivers and work out a compromise or do they intend to just ignore it? Tourism and business sector captains Goa react.
This is absolutely shocking of them to ask the government for masks and gloves. In addition, they also want to be paid Rs. 12,000 till work commences. I would like to ask them what is the cost of a mask. Now if they are not picking up passengers from the airport then what are they doing on the roads in the cities. If they are not operating then they should not even be parked on the roads. They should instead be parked at the residence of the driver as per the tourist trade act.
Savio Messias Former President TTAG
Everyone has to follow the norms. They have to cover themselves like everyone. The cost of a mask is not much. If the government wants to do something on this score, we will not have any problems. The taxi drivers have homes to run too and the economy has to restart. They have to start plying on the roads- Nilesh Shah President TTAG
When you allow them to sit on your head, this is what happens. Are these the ambassadors of Goa’s tourism? They repeatedly seem to hold the state to ransom. The government should get all the taxi drivers into one group. They have so many groups which is plain ridiculous. One group is good and you then have a system in place for them to operate. The general behaviour of the taxi drivers is bad for the name of Goa, domestically and internationally– Ernest Dias, VP Sita
They have a couple of taxis and they have no problem fleecing people. have they not saved for a rainy day. Today they are crying and asking for masks and gloves. Today it’s these people, tomorrow it will be the staff at the airports asking for masks and gloves from the government. Then the airlines will get into the act too. Is this what the government should be doing or looking at broader matters to help people– Bush Miranda, Managing Director, Cicerone Air Transport Services Pvt Ltd
This is a lobby that has grown strong after being given undue importance. Today, we are all going through an extraordinary situation and sure enough, they are trying to find a way to remove money from the government. They should have thought long and hard of ways to help the hospitality industry in these very strange and tough times- Jacob John GM Whispering Palms
I agree with them in the sense the the government should buy them the first pair of gloves and masks and after that , they will have to buy it on their own expenses– Roger Braganza GM HQ
Oh, the things that you can think!!. What comes next now? Fuel subsidies, meter subsidies, waivers are all now passe. PPE’s maybe? – Kirit Maganlal Founder and CEO Magsons Group
I don’t think it is the government’s job to provide them with gloves. if the government complies then tomorrow everyone will demand– Jack Sukhija, Partner Welcome Heritage
Understand this, the restaurants are going to start functioning from the 8th, do you then expect the local tea stall to ask the government for money to fumigate its premises. The taxi drivers have an association, they should ask their association for assistance. The government should not have anything to do with this. People are losing their jobs in droves. If the taxi drivers don’t budge it is absolutely fine, Goa Miles is more than adequate to handle the task of transferring people to their residences– Atish Fernandes First Class Holidays
