Taxi Union slams govt for not giving them counter at Airport

PANJIM: The Tourists Taxi Union of Vasco has slammed the Goa Government for denying them a dedicated counter at the Dabolim Airport, and alleged that the State was bringing in a ‘corporate monopoly’ on Goa’s taxi business.  

The State government on Friday filed an affidavit before the High Court of Bombay at Goa stating that the tourist taxis cannot be allotted a counter at the Dabolim international airport, in reply to the writ petition filed by Gurudas Parab, on behalf of the Tourist Taxi Union of Vasco seeking directions to the authorities to allot a counter at the airport. Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the Court that allotting them a counter is not valid as per the conditions of the permit issued to these taxis, adding that the tourist taxis cannot park their vehicles at a fixed stand, but need to be available for hire on their mobiles, due to congestion at the airport. 

Taxi Union rep Gangaram Phadte said that the government and the Advocate General are lying to the Court. “The HC orders of 2000 and 2001 entitles the Taxi Union to have a counter at the airport for information,” said Phadte. “Airports across India have counters of all the taxi providers and the permit conditions for all are the same,” said Phadte, threatening to approach the Supreme Court for justice. 

Social Activist Sudip Tamankar is prepared to become an intervener for the Taxi Union, in the case “The HC had already said that there has to be fair competition as far as taxis are concerned. The government has misinterpreted the order only to pave the way for monopolies by Yellow Black Taxis and Goa Miles taxi aggregator,” Tamankar alleged.