PORVORIM: Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho
said there are 18,000 tourist taxis on the road which are not paying GST and
TDS and government is losing Rs 90 to 100 crores a year. Whereas the Goa Miles
which has 1560 taxis pays Rs 8.5 crores revenue to government including GST and
TDS.
The transport minister was responding to
question by Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar to remove the Goa Miles counter from Mopa
International Airport since they are app based taxis. Pravin argued that locals
had purchased taxis on loans and Goa Miles by opening a counter at Mopa Airport
and by doing bookings on the app were taking away the business from locals.
Mauvin pointed out that most airports in
India were having app based taxis. He said 90% of the Goa Miles taxi owners and
drivers are Goans and 80% of the drivers and owners of Goa Miles taxis are from
Pernem and it is ridiculous to demand that taxi fares be raised.
