Calangute: Following complaints by tourists and GoaMiles drivers, tourist taxi owners and drivers from the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt were called for a meeting with police at the Calangute police station on Friday and told not to harass tourists if there are any problems over taxi fare or GoaMiles.
Porvorim SDPO Vishwesh Karpe said they called local taxi drivers and owners because there have been a few incidents recently due to which tourists missed their flights. “Tourists come to Goa and give business to our people, so they should be treated well. When they are treated well, they will go back and recommend Goa to others. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, the guest is equivalent to God and should be treated graciously,” he said.
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“When tourists come, some of them are under the influence of alcohol and then there are disputes over rates. Whenever such cases arise, then cabbies should immediately dial 112 and call police. They should not take law into their own hands, because this portrays Goa in bad light and tarnishes the image of the touristic State,” Karpe said.
The problem of conflicts with GoaMiles drivers was also raised, with police directing the cabbies to complain to the transport department if there are any disputes. “We have told them not to physically assault any tourist whenever there are disputes over GoaMiles. If they have any problems with GoaMiles, they should inform the transport department,” Karpe said.
Later, talking to media, the taxi drivers and owners said the transport department is ignoring their complaints against GoaMiles, while they are prompt to act against the local taxi drivers and owners and vowed to vote against the BJP candidate in the coming Lok Sabha election.
