Team Herald
PERNEM: Taxi drivers operating at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, staged a protest on Monday against the continued closure of the blue taxi counter — an issue that has remained unresolved despite several attempts over the past two to three years.
The drivers parked their vehicles in the market area and later gathered for a meeting at the office of the Deputy Collector. The meeting was attended by Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar, government officials, RTO representatives, and taxi drivers, and was seen as a crucial moment in the ongoing dispute.
During the discussions, Arlekar assured the protestors that efforts would be made to resolve the issue. However, former Pernem BJP Mandal president Tulshidas Gawas voiced dissatisfaction, pointing out that the matter had been raised multiple times with local authorities, including the MLA and GMR Goa International Airport Ltd, but no substantial steps had been taken.
Gawas criticised the local MLA for failing to give the issue due attention and said, “Since our local MLA is not addressing this issue properly, this situation keeps arising again and again. We stand with the people of Pernem taluka, and the Chief Minister must immediately intervene and resolve this issue.”
Taxi drivers warned that if the government continued to ignore their grievances, they would express their displeasure at the forthcoming Assembly elections. They further cautioned that continued closure of the counter would have electoral repercussions.
The protest underscores growing frustration within the local taxi community, who accuse both the local MLA and the authorities of inaction and lack of accountability.