VASCO: In a high voltage drama outside Dabolim International Airport on Tuesday morning, an NRI exposed the alleged looting of passengers by the recently opened tourist taxi counter (Maxicab) for using its Maxicab service.
According to information, an NRI namely Saturnino Rodrigues, who frequently travels to Goa, arrived at Dabolim international airport by Oman Air flight WY 209, at around 4 am on Tuesday. As he exited the main counter following an immigration and Customs check, he was greeted by a lady staff of the newly opened tourist taxi counter (Maxicab), offering cheap taxi service from the airport to his destination in Colva. But when he booked the service, he was shocked to receive a receipt of Rs 1,870 for travelling a distance of approximately 12 to 16 kms.
“I questioned the lady at the counter on the exorbitant charges to which she replied that it is due to night charges and increase in fuel price. Not satisfied with her reply, I sought to know other details through which I came to know of the nexus operating at the Dabolim airport in the name of taxi business,” Rodrigues stated in his email complaint to Herald.
“Later, after deliberations and arguments, the attendants of the new taxi counter finding no suitable answers to their demand of Rs 1,870 finally started defending themselves saying that they provide only Maxicabs such as Innova to passengers as they do not have a small cab or taxi service. In the heated argument, they finally pulled back the receipt from me and disengaged from the counter “exposing” themselves that they are operating illegally at the Dabolim Airport. Finally, I later booked a black and yellow taxi for Rs 790 for the same distance,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the NRI and few other passengers not only resisted to pay high fare but even ensured that other passengers were duly informed about the alleged high fares charged by the new taxi counter. The confrontation drama continued for over an hour until the Dabolim airport police intervened into the matter.
Meanwhile, the complaints of overcharging by the new car rental counter by Taj India Tours are not new as in past the United Taximen Association (UTA), a union of the yellow-black taxi operators from Dabolim airport had alleged that the new counter has been overcharging the passengers.
“We are helpless as from Collector to other officials of state administration, we knocked all doors with our complaints with regards to overcharging by the new taxi counter but no action has been initiated as yet. If government only gives permission to such counters then what more we can say. Tuesday’s incident was not a rare one as every day we have seen similar confrontation by people. They have displayed rates, which are equivalent to our rates but while issuing receipts they charge extra money,” alleged UTA president Sanjay Naik.
