PANJIM: Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has invited a delegation that will represent all the taxi associations to meet him but at the same time has made it clear that he will not accept any pre-conditions to hold that meeting.
A tentative date of Tuesday had been set as the government said it needs time to first complete the technical formalities involved in the Transport Department officially getting the counter at the airport.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
He was responding to taxi operators’ queries as to why the government is waiting till next week.
However, Godinho rejected the taxi operators’ demand that the meeting should be held live on social media and in front of the media, Godinho said this was not a ‘tiatr’ or a show he was going to.
On their other demand for scrapping GoaMiles, he said even if he issues an administrative order in that direction, GoaMiles will approach the court and then there will be a stay order and the matter will be stuck.
While the taxi operators said the government should first pass an order and then worry about going to the court, Godinho said this was not feasible.
He pointed out that an equally large section of the public wants competition to the local taxi service in the form of GoaMiles or other apps.
“I get lot of messages from people asking why they can’t have the option of affordable taxis like the people in other States have. Aren’t they App-based taxi services in other States. Don’t taxi services have meters. It is only different in Goa,” he added.
He said all the criticism levelled against him by the taxi operators doesn’t matter as at the end of the day, 8-10 thousand taxi operators cannot hold the State at ransom.
It is noted that the taxi operators have said that since Mauvin is refusing to their demand of holding that meeting live, the government now has to come to Azad Maidan and meet them there.
