TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: While most taxis stayed away in Canacona taluka, auto rickshaws had a field day on Monday with many making lengthy rides to Dabolim airport and to some tourist destinations in north Goa.
Some private mini-buses also chipped in to make up for the absence of the taxis, following the one-day strike call given by taxi operators.
Since early Monday morning, many tourist taxi drivers refused to ferry tourists and passengers to the Dabolim airport or Margao Railway Station. The rickshaws, which are normally engaged for travelling short distances, were called to undertake long trips to Dabolim airport and some tourist destinations in north Goa.
If sources are to be believed, the fares charged by some rickshaws were as high as Rs 1,800 for a drop to the airport.
Many tourists, who had their air tickets confirmed, had a tough time in reaching Dabolim airport and some travelling agencies hired services of minibuses to transport the tourists to the airport.
Some tourist taxis were, however, noticed freely transporting tourists, especially foreigners within Canacaona to places like Khola, Agonda, Palolem, Colomb, Patnem, Rajbag, Galgibaga and Polem. Some were even made trips to hinterland places like Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.
