PORVORIM
A major rift among the tourist taxi operators has led to the formation of a new tourist association in the State.
The formation of the ‘Association of Tourist Taxi Owners Goa’ (ATTOG) was officially announced at a news conference at Sangolda on Friday.
Justifying the setting up of a new association for tourist taxi operators, ATTOG President Chetan Kamat said there was no coordination between the existing North Goa tourist Owners association and South Goa Tourist Owners Association.
“Hence, tourist taxi owners faced a lot of difficulties while presenting their problems before the government. We have formed a new association and tourist taxi owners right from Canacona to Pernem will be members of this association,” said Kamat.
ATTOG General Secretary Gangaram Phadke said taxi drivers operating under Goa Miles get a fare to and fro, whereas Goan taxi owners get the fare for one way only. “Hence it becomes possible for Goa Miles taxi drivers to charge comparatively low fares for the passenger. Goan tourist taxi owners, therefore, do not get sufficient business,” Phadke added.
He said since the tourism business was down this tourism season, it had become difficult for Goan tourist taxi owners to repay bank loans.
ATTOG Vice General Secretary Furkhan Shah said officials of the new association would meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and present before him the issues of the tourist taxi owners.
“We will impress upon the chief minister that tourist taxi business in Goa is not similar to one in Mumbai or other metropolitan cities. Hence, the State government should not invite Uber or Ola taxi services in Goa but instead encourage local tourist taxi owners by addressing their grievances,” said Shah.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of new association consists of Chetan Kamat (President), Kundan Kerkar and Baban Sawant (Vice Presidents), Gangaram Phadke (General Secretary), Furkhan Shah and Ramdas Naik (Vice General Secretaries), Benedict Pinto (Treasurer), Prakash Dhargalkar and Mohan Nair (Vice Treasurer), Sanjay Kole (Spokesperson) and Raghunath Parab (Executive member).
