VASCO: The yellow and black taxi operators at the Dabolim international airport on Monday expressed their apprehensions over the drop in business while blaming GoaMiles taxi aggregator and rent-a-car operators eating into their business.
Speaking to media persons, the United Taximen Association member Anand Pednekar demanded that the State government must immediately stop the diversion of flights to the Mopa international airport and take stern action against touts, who were openly harassing the passengers arriving at the Dabolim airport.
Pednekar said that it was a matter of grave concern for them as several flights were being diverted to the Mopa airport. He pointed out that all four MLAs from Mormugao taluka had assured them that the Dabolim airport will not be shut after the commissioning of the Mopa airport and that both the airports will co-exist. But now the reality was different as domestic flights operations have reduced by 50 percent at Dabolim while, international flights operations have already been diverted to Mopa. This has caused fear among 350 taxi operators, who were struggling as they had less passengers to cater to.
Pednekar further said that GoaMiles App counter at the Dabolim airport was also affecting their business. He said that the GoaMiles was a mobile app wherein the passengers had to download the App and book taxis instead of putting up a pre-paid chart and soliciting passengers. “How can an online app display pre-paid rates at their counter and solicit passengers who don’t download the App? No taxi aggregator across India has a taxi fare board except GoaMiles at Dabolim airport. This is unacceptable”, he said.
Another union member Eknath Palkar said that touts operating at Dabolim airport was a major menace for the passengers.
Union general secretary Prasad Prabhugaonkar alleged thatrent-a-car operators were operating illegally at the Dabolim airport and demanded action again them. The rent-a-car operators are supposed to operate from their office but these cars are parked at the airport premises and take away customers.
Prabhugaonkar also demanded that the department of transport should give them renewal of digital meters at Rs 500 instead of Rs 4652, since they were already paying airport counter fees, GST, royalty and other charges.
