City
Epaper

Goa taxi strike continues, union leader arrested

By IANS | Updated: August 3, 2019 17:20 IST

Strike by the All Goa Taxi Operators Union continued for second day on Saturday after a union leader was arrested for allegedly assaulting a driver of a government-appointed cab aggregator service.

Open in App

Bappa Korgaonkar before being arrested told reporters, "The strike will continue. I have been arrested on false charges. I will not seek bail and will continue to be in police lock-up until the GoaMiles taxi aggregator service is scrapped by the government."

The strike has caused hardships, especially to tourists, many of whom arrived in Goa to spend the long weekend.

Speaking to , Gagan Malik, Airport Authority of India (AAI) airport manager for Goa, said, airlines had been instructed to inform inbound passengers about the taxi strike before they alight from the aircraft.

"We have set up a 24x7 help desk in the airport departure zone. We are also helping passengers download the GoaMiles cab app on their phones to help them access the taxi service," Malik said.

The frequency of airport coaches had also been increased to handle increased passenger volumes, he added. The airport handles nearly 11,000 inbound passengers every day.

Several drivers of 30,000-odd tourist taxis have often been accused of over-charging, intimidating and operating in an unregulated environment.

Several attempts by the state government to implement a fare-meter system have failed. The August deadline set by the high court to install fare meters in Goa's taxis has also not been met.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed the taxi drivers on Saturday to end the strike and either join the cab aggregator service or approach the state government to set up a cab aggregator service for the taxi union drivers.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: goaGagan MalikPramod Sawantindia
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalJammu on High Alert: CM Omar Abdullah Urges Citizens to Stay Indoors as Union Territory Faces Blackout Amid Attacks

MumbaiMumbai ATC Faces Heavy Load as International Flights Reroute Amid Pakistan Airspace Closure

NationalOver 100 Flights Cancelled at Delhi Airport Due to Airspace and Security Issues: Reports

CricketYashasvi Jaiswal Makes U-Turn, Requests MCA to Allow Him to Play for Mumbai in Upcoming Domestic Season

NationalBSF Foils Major Infiltration Attempt, Kills 7 JeM Terrorists at Samba Border Amid Rising Tensions Between India and Pakistan (Watch Video)

National Realted Stories

NationalMissile-like object falls into Srinagar's Dal Lake, drone shot down over Srinagar airfield

NationalOperation Sindoor: Karnataka govt cracks down on fake, provocative content online

National'Operation Sindoor' has raised the cost of supporting terrorism for Pakistan, says Retd Lt. Gen Dua

NationalKarnataka CM convenes special meeting amid rising tensions with Pak

NationalNitish Kumar to hold high-level meeting in Purnea amid rising India-Pak tensions