Tourist taxi operators call off indefinite agitation

Panaji/Calangute: Tourist taxi operators, who until Monday evening had said they would not give up till their demands are met and threatened to go on an indefinite strike, called off their agitation on Tuesday afternoon after the government constituted an 11-member committee to look into their demands.
The committee comprises ministers, MLAs and government officials."The panel has been asked to submit a report within a month," chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said after deliberations with representatives of tourist taxi operators and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo ended.
Water resources minister Dayanand Mandrekar, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, transport minister Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo, Benaulim MLA Caetano R Silva, transport director, director of tourism, SPs of North and South Goa and executive members of North Goa Tourist Taxi Operators Association (NGTTOA) are part of the committee.
The main demand of the tourist taxi operators include immediate action against alleged illegal operations of rent-a-car operators and rent-a-bike operators.
NGTTOA vice-president Ravindra Vengurlekar told TOI that Parsekar has issued orders to SPs and collectors of both districts, and the transport department director to take action against illegal rental of private cars and bikes.
The registration of any private vehicle which is given on rent will be immediately suspended for six months, and will also be cancelled in case of repeat violations.
"At the outset, Lobo told the chief minister that in the last four years the taxi owners have only been given assurances, but no action has followed. The time for action has come now," Vengurlekar said.
Earlier in the day, streets in the tourism hub of Calangute-Candolim wore a deserted look for the second day in the absence of the taxis that otherwise are a ubiquitous sight in the coastal belt which is thronged by tourists throughout the year.
Taxi owners gathered at the Dolphin circle in front of the Calangute church in the morning to discuss their issues and senior members of the NGTTOA later proceeded to Panaji for the meeting with the chief minister.
With the striking tourist taxi owners refraining from stopping other private and public transport vehicles from carrying tourists, the situation was near normal, except for tourists trying to reach the airport and railway stations having a tough time.
In the absence of a direct bus service to Tivim or Karmali railway stations, scores of tourists were seen boarding the local buses to Panaji.
While larger hotels and resorts had arranged for private vehicles to drop off their guests to the airport and railway stations, tourists staying in smaller guesthouses were left to fend for themselves.