These taxi operators can always be observed refusing to ply their taxi unless the taxi has eight passengers seated in the vehicle, three passengers on the front seat, seated besides (close to) the driver and five passengers on the rear (or back) seat in gross violation of the Motor Vehicle Rules and Regulations as this amounts to overcrowding the taxi beyond the prescribed seating capacity!

Or else, they demand that the already sitting passengers pay an extra amount other than the fixed Rs 15 per head that they pay! This results in a very embarrassing situation for the women passengers as they have to squeeze between two or more male passengers, besides sitting on the laps of one another, irrespective of the identity of the passenger! Is this a way to greet the tourists who we constantly invite to Goa, saying “Athiti Devo Bhavo” and providing them an unforgettable experience of our beautiful tourist State?

There has been no attempts made by the authorities concerned to immediately curb this malaise that has so far gone unnoticed under the very noses of the traffic police as well

as some of unscrupulous transport department officials for a petty consideration?

Perhaps commencing more direct KTC buses to ply on this Margao-Colva route could help to ease this very unpleasant situation but will the authorities oblige or continue to pander to the tunes of their political masters who ultimately bow down to the requests of their vote banks ignoring the genuine grievances of the general public, besides the regular tourists frequenting the State?

Those responsible should strive for an immediate probable solution.