PORVORIM: The yellow-black taxis in the State withdrew their strike on Wednesday, the seventh day of the strike.
A delegation of the All Goa Yellow-Black Taxi Association (AGYBTA) met Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant at the Assembly. After that Sawant informed the Assembly that the AGYBTA assured him they would be back on the road and provide services immediately.
He further said that in order to support the taxis, no new permissions and permits will granted to the rent-a-cab and rent-a-bike services for the next three years. “Even renewal of licences of rent-a-bike and rent-a-cab will not be granted. If someone’s bike or car has been scrapped, there will be no renewal of their permits so that the number of these vehicles comes down. There is no match in the numbers, 2,500 taxis and 18,000 rent-a-bikes and rent-a-cabs. This cannot go on,” he stated.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, however, pointed out that the Opposition MLAs had supported the taxi owners only seeking the interest of Goans. He said, “We spent all the time along with the Chief Minister so that the problem is solved and governance is streamlined. We will support you to do good governance but ensure that the rest of the taxis also come on board. Request you not to be favourable to GoaMiles.”
