Goa: Cabbies threaten tourists, force them to use taxis

  • | Friday | 29th March, 2019

"In fact, some days ago, the travel agency had approached Mormugao police with a request to look into the matter. TimesView This is an outrageous act by taximen, but not in the least surprising because, in Goa, taxis operate like mafia and are a law unto themselves. The thuggery by taxi operators has been repeatedly highlighted by tourists, both domestic and international, but to no avail because they clearly enjoy political patronage. From fleecing and cheating passengers, to not installing meters, to not going by the fare chart, they are a menace to society. Passengers were seen alighting and hiring taxis.

TimesView This is an outrageous act by taximen, but not in the least surprising because, in Goa, taxis operate like mafia and are a law unto themselves. In fact, the state’s taxi operators are infamous the world over. From fleecing and cheating passengers, to not installing meters, to not going by the fare chart, they are a menace to society. The thuggery by taxi operators has been repeatedly highlighted by tourists, both domestic and international, but to no avail because they clearly enjoy political patronage. Thursday’s ultimate bold act, which transgresses all boundaries, should ring alarm bells for their patrons. Today, tourist numbers have just seen a marginal drop. But, if this is how they will be treated in the state, then the day is not far when their numbers will altogether dry up. The time has come for the government to take a tough stand and break this politician-taxi operator nexus. VASCO: Around 30 corporate domestic passengers, who arrived on board the Mumbai-Goa cruise liner Angriya on Thursday, were threatened by a group of taxi drivers at the Mormugao Port Trust cruise terminal. The taxi drivers forced the tourists to use their services, forcing them out of the coach arranged for them by their travel agency.Condemning the act, president Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Savio Messias said, "This incident is going to land Angriya's operations in trouble. The passengers have said they will never return," adding that this "goondagiri" will not stop here and "even international tourists will be affected".Police were informed by the travel agency about the problem a few days ago, Messias told TOI, blaming police for not taking precautionary measures."In fact, some days ago, the travel agency had approached Mormugao police with a request to look into the matter. They told them about the trouble faced at the cruise terminal for some time now. On the contrary, police refused to accept the letter," Messias told TOI.The TTAG president said the taxi drivers were annoyed when they saw the Angriya passengers boarding a coach. "They threatened the passengers against using the coach," he said, adding that this behaviour was totally unacceptable.Sources said that six taxis approached the coach and the frightened passengers were left with no option but to get into the vehicles. The visitors have come to the state to attend a corporate event and are booked at a star hotel in Cavelossim DySP Sunita Sawant told TOI, "Nothing of that sort has been reported to us. In fact, when the cruise liner Angriya arrived, two policemen from Mormugao police station were present at the site for around half an hour. Passengers were seen alighting and hiring taxis. No untoward incident was witnessed by police."When asked about the letter by the travel agency being rejected by Mormugao police, Sawant said, "I inquired with my staff at the police station, and I have been told that no such letter was ever received by them."The travel agency said it will lodge a police complaint on Friday.Sources said that six taxis approached the coach and the frightened passengers were left with no option but to get into the vehicles. The visitors have come to the state to attend a corporate event and are booked at a star hotel in Cavelossim.DySP Sunita Sawant told TOI, “Nothing of that sort has been reported to us. In fact, when the cruise liner Angriya arrived, two policemen from Mormugao police station were present at the site for around half an hour. Passengers were seen alighting and hiring taxis. No untoward incident was witnessed by police.”When asked about the letter by the travel agency being rejected by Mormugao police, Sawant said, “I inquired with my staff at the police station, and I have been told that no such letter was ever received by them.”The travel agency said it will lodge a police complaint on Friday.

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