MARGAO: Tourist buses and tempo traveller owners have accused the tourist taxi drivers along the South Goa coastal hotel line of abusing them frequently.
The tempo and tourist bus owners on Saturday claimed that the taxi drivers were not allowing them to pick up the tourists at the hotel when they are confirmed for the trip. Tourists coming in groups select tempos or buses, since the fare of tourist taxis was high, and hence by opting for tempos or buses they save some amount instead of hiring two or three taxis.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Keynan Sayed, a tourist bus owner from Margao told O Heraldo that tourist taxi operators have been blocking them whenever they go to the hotel to pick the tourists/customers. “We are threatened and abused. They even attempt to assault us whenever we go to the hotels to pick passengers. I was stopped by the tourist taxi operators when I had gone to a starred hotel at Cavelossim to pick up passengers. I lodged a police complaint and the police told me that they will call them for enquiry but nothing happened,” Sayed said.
Sayed said that the tourist taxi operators are of the opinion that they hail from coastal areas and that they will not allow others to enter in their coastal areas.
“We are not doing illegal business. We have all permits from the Department of Transport. We go to the hotel only when our vehicles are booked,” Sayed said.
Jannet Dias, a tourist bus owner from Mobor said that she too was opposed by the tourist taxi operators. “I am from the same village and I want to earn my livelihood. Now they are creating problems for me. They even go and warn hotel management not to allow our buses to operate. I own three tourist buses which I am unable to operate,” Jannet said.
They later submitted a memorandum to Margao DySP Santosh Dessai, in this regard. DySP Desai said that the police will look into their memorandum and call both the warrying groups and take action in accordance with law. “We will try to find solution to this issue,” he said.
