HERALD: Why is there an opposition to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) local tourist taxi app proposal?
Vinayak Nanoskar: There are several taxis which are tied up with the hotels, while some are stationed at the airport and railway stations. If the app is launched, these taxis which have fixed points will have no business. About 500 taxis do their business from the airport. If the GTDC’s intention is to bring these tourist taxis under the proposed scheme, then my question is why the Corporation is interfering into the domain of Transport Department. Why is it not checking the state of its residencies and the condition of the roads? Even these are connected with the tourism sector. The Transport Minister (Ramkrishna Dhavalikar) has also said such a concept of local tourist taxi app is not feasible for a state like Goa. I don’t understand the mentality of the present government. What good are they doing for the people of Goa? If the government succeeds in its initiative and the tourist taxis join the venture, we will ensure they do not carry out their business – even if they are locals – in the north district. We will not keep quiet. We will go on a strike during the peak tourist months in December – January, if there is a consistent pressure on us.
HERALD: There was an opposition to digital meters though it was thereafter agreed upon and then Ola-Uber taxi services. Why is there an opposition to every initiative/proposal of the Tourism Department and GTDC?
Nanoskar: The ideas brought in the name of tourism are not fit for Goa. Several concepts have failed in the past despite which the politicians want to introduce schemes from other states. For the digital meters, we had earlier objected because it looks as if only the tourist taxis are involved in speeding or accidents. If you (government) want to regulate on the speed, then let the speed governors be put on all the vehicles. Why is the government not checking the condition of the roads that also amounts to accidents? Moreover, we have checked the records and found that only in 1-2 cases, our taxi drivers were involved in accidents. Nevertheless, we have agreed to install the digital meters. Why the authorities are paying heed to a certain group and not the rest. Why is not everyone taken into consideration?
HERALD: There have been frequent complaints from the tourists through various platforms that the taxi owners are rude and charge exorbitant fares, and this is one reason that GTDC proposes converting the existing system?
Nanoskar: Why say we over-charge them. Let these critics go to the Transport department and ask for rates. We are charging less than the government price, and at airports, why the tourists don’t check the rates displayed at the taxi stand. How are these tourists paying extra then? These allegations are baseless. Check the petrol rates and the distances. When one claims that flight, train and bus tickets are cheaper than taxi travel; then they should also see to it that they are traveling solo or with their family in privacy unlike in a bus that carries hoardes of passengers at a time. About the complaints of rudeness, why one does not take into account how the tourists misbehave with us instead. Why are the taxis targeted all the time? If one dares, call 100 and lodge complain.
