SANGOLDA: The All Goa Taxi Owners Association (AGTOA) on Saturday disagreed with Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo who on Friday said that the private taxi operators were ready to operate under an app-based system if it is owned and controlled by the government.
Addressing the media on Saturday at a Sangolda hotel, the President of the All Goa Taxi Owners Association, Chetan Kamat rejected the suggestion of Lobo to start a new-app which, he said, would be joined by the private taxi owners.
“We are totally against installing or joining any new app; even if owned by the government. We do not agree to your statement and we do not want our business to be based on an app. May it be the Goa Miles app or any new app. Without having any discussion with us or hearing our view point it is incorrect for the deputy speaker to make such a statement. On behalf of the taxi owners from Goa I would like to reaffirm that we do not want any app,” said Kamat.
“The taxi association is ready to go ahead with the suggestion given by the Deputy Speaker to display fare list in the cabs provided hotels also display the rates at the reception or travel desk. We reject the statement made by him that tourists are suffering due to their fights while opposing GoaMiles,” he said.
President of the Yellow and black Association Sunil Naik lamented that they had meetings from Pernem to Canacona to bring to the notice of the government that the GoaMiles app is illegal and run by outsiders.
“We do not want to work under any one and allow them to profit from our hard work. We demand that the app be scrapped. They are saying there is a need for technology, but the condition of our roads is miserable. We demand that the taxi owners, drivers and other stakeholder be called for a discussion during which the need for an app can be discussed,” Naik said.
They also highlighted that the fixing of meters cannot be made mandatory in all India tourist taxis as these taxis travel outside the State and it is not feasible to operate as per the meter.
