PANJIM: Taxi operators under the banner of All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) will hold padyatra in the coastal areas of North Goa from October 2, in protest against the government’s failure to scrap app-based taxi services and to expose the corrupt practices of the Sawant government.
AGPBOA General Secretary Sudip Tamhankar said that the padyatra will start from Azad Maidan, Panjim and will pass through Reis Magos, Nerul, Candolim, Calangute, Chapora, Siolim, Morjim, Mandrem, Arambol and Keri.
From October 2, padyatra will start from 10 am and halt at 5.30 pm everyday, and will hold corner meetings at important locations, Tamhankar said adding that it will end at Keri.
“We don’t know how many days we will take to reach Keri and we also don’t know how much we will cover daily because padyatra will halt at 5.30 pm everyday,” he said adding that similar padyatra will be organised in the coastal areas of South Goa District.
Alleging that the government is playing with the taxi operators, Tamhankar said that on one hand the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is announcing that digital fare meters will be provide free of cost to taxi operators while, on the other hand there is no official communication to the agency/vendor fitting these meters.
According to Tamhankar, the padyatra also aims at creating awareness among the people on the alleged failures of the ruling BJP government.
“Due to non installation of meters, the taxi operators are facing difficulties to renew their permits, transfer vehicles and get their vehicles inspected,” he said.
