Taxi mafia in Goa feel the heat of Women Power

City, coastal taxi operators to lower fares to counter competition from women cab service

NT NETWORK
PANAJI: Fearing losing out to women taxi drivers, taxi operators mainly from Panaji and coastal areas have decided to charge less than the meter-based fares charged by the newly-commissioned Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) taxis.
Although some taxi operators claimed that they are not directly affected by the women taxi service, they feared losing out on business in the long run.
Women taxi operators charge Rs 33 per kilometer without a return fare with an additional Rs 100 per hour for over 4 hours of journey or Rs 21 per kilometer for a travel of over 50 kms while taxis charge a base fare of Rs 16-20 with an additional return fare.
State transport department has fixed two types of rates for tourist taxis – first on kilometer basis which ranges from Rs 26-Rs 146 based on the type of vehicles and another based on charging point-to-point fares.
A private taxi driver operating from Calangute-based GTDC Residency said, “Our business has got affected since women taxi service was launched. Since they offer pre-booking facility, passengers remain unaware about the lower rates offered by us. Women taxi operators strictly ply as per government-notified rates. We will approach customers with our competitive rates.”
North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president Vasudev Arlekar said, “We are not opposed to the women taxi service as far as only Goan women are involved. We have been charging less than the regulated fares for the convenience of people whereas women taxi operators strictly ply according to the rates notified by transport department. Obviously people would choose us over women-driven taxis. We are ready to face the competition.”
Ruling out competition, a city-based taxi operator Guru Shenvi, 42 said, “I don’t feel any competition from women taxi service and I don’t think our fares are too high and taxi drivers here merely follow regulated fares set by the Transport department as tourists prefer to ply at negotiable rates.
A taxi operator from Baga, who wished not to be named, said, “We are not much concerned about the competition from women taxi operators as w offer best service by following regulations set by the Transport department and also offer discounts to travelers. However, we will ply at lower rates.”
A taxi operator from city said, “Though we have no problem with women taxi service as our business is well settled and we will not get affected, I fail to understand why the government has introduced women cab service.”
 http://www.navhindtimes.in/city-coastal-taxi-operators-lower-fares-counter-competition-women-cab-service/