VASCO: Private taxi operators looted tourists arriving at Dabolim airport to celebrate New Year in Goa. With no check on overcharging of fares, tourists were left with no option but to pay huge amounts to reach their destinations.
Herald’s findings reveal that though the normal pre-paid taxi fare to Calangute, Baga or any other beach in North Goa from Dabolim airport is about Rs 1200 to Rs 1800, the increasing demand for taxis on December 30 and 31 led to private cabmen operating from the four-lane road opposite the airport terminal building charging tourists nothing less
than Rs 4000 to Rs 5000.
Similarly at the pre-paid counter at the airport, the normal fare till Panjim is Rs 870, however, citing heavy traffic congestion, the private taxi operators charged nothing less than Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 from tourists.
“It was quite frustrating to see that private tourist taxis were charging over Rs 4000 to 5000 to tourists intending to go to North Goa beaches and Rs 1500 plus to Panjim. Many of my guests complained of overcharging, but they were helpless and had to hire the taxis on these days,” said Maruti Shirgaonkar, who works at the airport.
It’s not that authorities, including the police at the airport, were clueless about the overcharging, as a policeman confirmed that he saw tourists bargaining as taxi operators were asking double the normal fares. “Everybody was helpless on these days as there was a sudden rush at the airport and pre-paid taxis were running short so in a hurry people had to opt for such private taxis, even though the rates were high. We wanted to intervene but then due to high demand for taxis we had to keep our mouth shut,” said a policeman.
The Airport Taxi Union members confirmed that private taxis were overcharging on both days. “We saw many private tourists taxis opposite the airport building. They had kept their agents at the arrival gate to convince tourists to hire taxis. We received complaints that taxi operators from North Goa were ferrying passengers charging high rates but as we were busy and so unable to stop such illegal operations. Such things should stop as it brings a bad name to tourism,” said Sanjay Naik, member of United Taximen Association (registered taxi operator union of Dabolim airport).
Though the airport taxi operators are irked with overcharging by private taxi operators they too feel helpless in tackling the issue. “We are against illegal private taxi operations from the airport as they (private taxis) then indulge in such practice of overcharging. We have complained to the police demanding to stop these private taxi operators from operating from the airport, however, despite police warnings and even action, these taxis still come and operate,” said Sainath Salgaonkar, President United Taximen Association.
