PANJIM: Tourist Taxi Association of Goa is ready to install a GPS system and meters to the taxis only after the government stops the illegal operation of the rent-a-car business.
The association general secretary, Vinay Nanoskar, said the government has failed to resolve the issues of the taxi operators in spite of a series of assurances. He said the government should stop illegal operations first then and then turn to regulate the legal business.
“We are not against the GPS system and meters in taxis, but we oppose the illegal trade of rent-a-car which has taken over the taxi business,” Nanoskar said. He suggested that the government make a provision of proper infrastructure to install, change and repair gadgets which will be fitted in taxis.
There are 20,294 taxi operators in Goa whereas the rent-a-car operators are around 8000. The rent-a-car service in Goa is not regularized. However, in the coastal belt people are operating their trade from hotel premises. A large number of tourists in Goa prefer to hire self-driven cars which come cheaper than the normal taxis.
On Saturday three vehicles with officers attached to the North Goa Enforcement Wing of the Transport Department were deployed in Calangute and Candolim to initiate action on the rent-a-car operators but were not able take any action on the illegal operators. All rent-a-car operators had gathered together and chased all three vehicles out of the Calangute and Candolim.
