------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, tourists can call transport dept if overcharged by cabbies ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The yellow-and-black taxi owners have agreed to print the address and telephone numbers of the transport department on the receipt being issued by them to the tourists. This was in response to an action plan initiated by the Directorate of Transport to act tough against the erring taxi operators.
The Transport Department, meanwhile is expected to initiate a process for finalising new fares for the air-condition and non-air-condition taxis in the state. In earlier notification there was no specific fare for the AC cars.
The Y&B taxi operators today called on the Director of Transport, Mr D A Hawaldar and expressed their grievances over parking at Dabolim airport in view of allocation made to the rent-a-car service.
Mr Hawaldar told The Navhind Times that no agency has sought a license for operating rent-a-car service at the airport. He said as per the law the state transport authority's (STA) license is required to operate service from a particular point.
The director said the Y&B taxi operators are cooperative and they have agreed to print specific numbers of the transport officials on their receipts so that any tourist, if found overcharged can lodge the complaint with the authority.
In view of increasing complaints being received from the visiting tourists against the taxi operators for overcharging, the director yesterday held a meeting with the enforcement officials and issued direction to act tough against the erring taxi operators.
Mr Hawaldar said the transport department would not hesitate to cancel the permit, if the operators ware found violating the rules in force to run the business.
Surprisingly no permit has been cancelled since the tourist taxi scheme introduced in Goa. The strength of the taxis have gone up to 7600, of which 600 are Y&B.
The transport authority also has been into piquant situation in view of liberalisation of all India tourist taxi permits by the Central government. In view of this, no state can refuse the all India tourist taxi permits.
Though the taxi tariff in force is Rs 8 per kilometre and fifty per cent for return journey, the department has received several complaints of overcharging on almost all the routes.
Besides, some taxi operators have attempted to take control over few points which also many a time leads into a law and order problem. This has led into clashes at several points in the past. It may be recalled that few years back the taxi operators had stopped the hotel buses, which were carrying tourists. ---------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 8/11/03 page 1 ---------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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