PANAJI: Tourist taxi operators in the state have opposed the
government proposal for installation of digital fare meters for their
taxis. Both the taxi associations have threatened to launch an agitation
against the proposal, which was announced by Chief Minister
Laxmikant Parsekar in his budget.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, North Goa Tourist Taxi Association president Vasudev Arlekar wanted to know why they are singled out when other stakeholders in the tourism sector fleece customers and transact business in foreign currencies.
“Why the government expects uniform fares only from taxi operators when there are others in the industry who fleece and cheat customers openly,” he asked.
The North Goa Tourist Association demanded uniformity in rates for services provided by all tourism stakeholders like hoteliers, operators of flight and bus services, and shack and massage parlour owners.
Arlekar said that they would not allow the government to go ahead with the digital fare meter proposal unless their demands are met.
If the government wants to implement its decision on fare meter then first and foremost it must bring about uniformity in prices for services provided by all stakeholders in the tourism industry, he said.
The most common complaint against tourist taxi operators is that they overcharge customers, while some behave rudely with their clients.
Responding to the allegations, he asserted that very rarely passengers are overcharged.
“No passenger is willing to pay the present fares… so we have to undercharge them, but vehicles attached to hotels and shacks fleece the customers,” he said.
South Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president Seby Fernandes said that they would not allow digital fare meters to be fixed on taxis unless their demands are settled as “out of our ten demands, so far only one has been accepted i.e. hike in tariffs.”
Fernandes also alleged that private vehicle owners are operating illegally, and no action is taken against them.
Presenting his maiden budget on Wednesday, Parsekar said that as a measure towards stronger enforcement and in order to facilitate a secure environment and proper tariff for the citizen and the visiting tourists, he has proposed compulsory installation of digital fare meter with printer and GPS tracking device, for new taxis by May 1, 2015.
“The existing permit holders will be assisted in shifting over to this new scheme, by providing subsidy on the equipment during the year,” he said.
http://www.navhindtimes.in/tourist-taxi-operators-say-no-to-digital-fare-meters/
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, North Goa Tourist Taxi Association president Vasudev Arlekar wanted to know why they are singled out when other stakeholders in the tourism sector fleece customers and transact business in foreign currencies.
“Why the government expects uniform fares only from taxi operators when there are others in the industry who fleece and cheat customers openly,” he asked.
The North Goa Tourist Association demanded uniformity in rates for services provided by all tourism stakeholders like hoteliers, operators of flight and bus services, and shack and massage parlour owners.
Arlekar said that they would not allow the government to go ahead with the digital fare meter proposal unless their demands are met.
If the government wants to implement its decision on fare meter then first and foremost it must bring about uniformity in prices for services provided by all stakeholders in the tourism industry, he said.
The most common complaint against tourist taxi operators is that they overcharge customers, while some behave rudely with their clients.
Responding to the allegations, he asserted that very rarely passengers are overcharged.
“No passenger is willing to pay the present fares… so we have to undercharge them, but vehicles attached to hotels and shacks fleece the customers,” he said.
South Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president Seby Fernandes said that they would not allow digital fare meters to be fixed on taxis unless their demands are settled as “out of our ten demands, so far only one has been accepted i.e. hike in tariffs.”
Fernandes also alleged that private vehicle owners are operating illegally, and no action is taken against them.
Presenting his maiden budget on Wednesday, Parsekar said that as a measure towards stronger enforcement and in order to facilitate a secure environment and proper tariff for the citizen and the visiting tourists, he has proposed compulsory installation of digital fare meter with printer and GPS tracking device, for new taxis by May 1, 2015.
“The existing permit holders will be assisted in shifting over to this new scheme, by providing subsidy on the equipment during the year,” he said.
http://www.navhindtimes.in/tourist-taxi-operators-say-no-to-digital-fare-meters/
No comments:
Post a Comment