CANDOLIM: Taxi owners on Tuesday demanded with the government to scrap the GoaMiles App. During a meeting held on Monday, which was called to discuss the further steps, the North Goa taxi owners and drivers decided not to take any help from the politician until the GoaMiles App is scarped.
“Minister Micheal Lobo has stated that the government is responsible for the GoaMiles App issue. Earlier, Lobo had assured us that the GoaMiles will be scrapped if the taxi owners install meters. He had also stated that he would resign if the Speed Governor issue is not solved. However, till date these assurances are not fulfilled,” said Chetan Kamat, one of the members.
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“Lobo should resign from his ministry and stand up with us or else should scrap the GoaMiles App and gain our trust in him. The government is responsible for this condition of the taxi owners and drivers. We have made several representations to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and ministers but till date our demands are not looked into,” Kamat claimed.
“Also we were told that the tax issue will be settled. However, on ground reality it has not happened till today. When taxi owners visit the insurance company to renew the licence, the company ask them to first pay the tax. We request Minister Lobo to look into the tax matter and get it solved,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the other hand taxi owners and drivers from Anjuna have urged the government to give back their business.
Taxi owners claimed that due to COVID-19 pandemic this year, there are no Christmas and New Year celebration events happening in the coastal belt due to which they haven’t got any business which they usually used to get every year during this season.
“This year there are no music events or anything happening in the coastal belt due to which there is no business. We request the government to provide us a backup by organising events or something similar which will attract more tourists in the State and get them business,” Yogesh Govekar, a taxi owner from Anjuna said.
“Due to COVID-19, the business is already down. Events, parties or any other activities, which used to happen during this time of the year is not happening. We are Niz Goenkars which are totally dependent on this business. Now also we get trips only once or twice a week, which sometimes is taken away by GoaMiles. We request the government to provide us a backup by organising some events so that we could get business,” Peter Fernandes, a taxi driver said.
