Motorcycle pilots, rickshaw drivers fleecing Goans - NT

Published on: February 19, 2014 - 02:11 PANAJI: While most businesses in the state are bearing the burden of economic slowdown, the transport lobby (especially the motorcycle pilots, rickshaw and taxi drivers) have been having a field day by charging fares between 100 and 200 per cent of the permissible fares to ferry passengers (both domestic as well as the tourists). Complaints of fleecing have been pouring in from different quarters with a large number of the victims being locals as well as tourists, who use the services of motorcycle pilots or the rickshaws most, while in the case of taxis similar type of complaints are received though on a lesser frequency. While the notified fare for ferrying a person on a motorcycle from Panaji bus stand to Altinho (a distance of three kilometres) works out to Rs 24 - Rs 14 for the first kilometre and Rs 5 for every subsequent kilometre, people are charged anything between Rs 50 and Rs 70. People are similarly charged between Rs 50 and Rs 80 for travelling a distance of 3 kilometres from Panaji market to Altinho and Rs 100 for a journey to Taleigao, a distance of five kilometres when the normal fares work out to Rs 34. There have been complaints that tourists have been charged from Rs 150 to Rs 200 to travel up to Taleigao. According to transport department officials, the motorcycle ‘pilots’ (as the riders are referred to in the state and found almost everywhere) are allowed to charge 50 per cent of the one-way fare extra in case they have to go beyond the municipal or panchayat limits. The new rates were made effective by a gazette notification dated August 1, 2013. The officials further said that the motorcycle pilots are also allowed to charge 25 per cent extra amount for ferrying passengers between 11 pm and 5 am, while the waiting charges are Rs 15 for an hour or Rs 2 for every 10 minutes. They are not allowed to charge any amount more than what has been notified by the government. Similarly, the rickshaw drivers also charge more than 100 per cent of the permissible fares. According to transport department officials, rickshaw drivers are permitted to charge Rs 20 per kilometre (flat). They are not allowed to charge any extra amount even if they go outside the municipal or panchayat limits. This paper received a lot of complaints of overcharging from different sections of the society. A lady walked in this office to state that she was charged Rs 120 from KTC bus stand to Altinho (a distance of three kilometres). Though the night journey rates are applicable after 11 pm, drivers start charging the amount soon after sunset. A journey to Teen Building at Porvorim costs passengers Rs 200, whereas the notified fare is just Rs 60. A person is charged Rs 100 to reach the government quarters at Patto from the KTC bus stand (for a journey of about 500 metres). Many a patients, who prefer to take a rickshaw to reach Goa Medical College at Bambolim have to shell out upto Rs 200 as against Rs 100, the notified fare. Similarly for a distance of four kilometres from KTC bus stand to Ribandar Patto, passengers have to shell out Rs 200 to travel by rickshaw. In the case of ordinary taxis, passengers are charged upwards of Rs 500 to travel upto Candolim (a distance of 12 kilometres from KTC bus stand) when the actual fares including 50 per cent extra fare applicable for travel outside the municipal limits works out to Rs 255 (Rs 16 for the first kilometre and Rs 14 for every subsequent kilometre). In the case of air-conditioned taxis upto 1500 cc, the applicable rates are Rs 18 for the first kilometre and Rs 14 for every subsequent kilometre, while in the case of air-conditioned taxis above 1500 cc, the applicable rates are Rs 21 for first kilometre and Rs 17 for every subsequent kilometre. In the case of ordinary taxis and air-conditioned taxis upto 1500 cc, the luggage charges are Rs 10 per baggage above 15 kilogrammes while in the case of air-conditioned taxis above 1500 cc, the rates are Rs 20 per baggage. The waiting charges are Rs 50 for every hour or Rs 4 for every 10 minutes. Besides, 35 per cent of the normal rates are applicable for journey from 11 pm to 5 am. Though the government has installed boards displaying fares chargeable by the motorcycle pilots, rickshaw and taxi drivers at various places, they are too small to be noticed by the people, especially those in a hurry. Besides, if someone argues for normal rate, the motorcycle pilots or the rickshaw or taxi drivers refuse to carry the person to his destination. http://www.navhindtimes.in/goa-news/motorcycle-pilots-rickshaw-drivers-fl-eecing-goans-charge-over-100-allowed-fare