Team Herald
MAPUSA: The North Goa Taxi Owners’ Association of Sirsaim Thivim had demanded that the government provide yellow plates to 23 taxis operating at Thivim Railway Station.
The North Goa Taxi Owners Association of Sirsaim Thivim demanded that government release yellow plates to 23 taxis running at Thivim railway station.
Association president Shekhar Kandolkar claimed that there are 40 yellow plate taxis operating at Thivim Railway Station and 23 others operating with private number plates.
Since the last 15 years, these 23 taxi owners have been running their business at Thivim Railway Station. However, they claimed that since they do not have yellow plates installed on their vehicles, their business has been affected as the tourists prefer travel in taxis having yellow plates. Tourists departing from railway station buy prepaid taxi coupons and travel via the taxis with yellow plates.
The association has claimed that at times when they get passengers, they are forced to charge the tourists less fare to ensure that they don’t lose customers. The private cabmen park their taxis 300 metres from the railway station due to which they don’t get any business.
Association also claimed that sometimes when all the 40 taxis with yellow plates are hired, tourists are forced to wait for hours for the next taxi to return since they have already paid for taxi at prepaid counter and the money is non-refundable. In the process, the vacant taxis lose passengers.
Association claimed that since the last decade the government has failed to release new taxi permits. The number of tourists at the Thivim railway station has increased but the number of taxis has remained the same. The association has demanded that the government release more permits or provide them with parking place along with the yellow plate taxis.
