SME Times News Bureau | 20 Jan, 2018
In a stern warning to striking tourist taxi operators,
Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday said if the "illegal"
strike is not withdrawn by Saturday, the state government will invite taxi
aggregators like Uber and Ola to operate in Goa.
"If the illegal taxi strike is not withdrawn by Saturday, then the
transport department shall invite leading taxi aggregators like Uber and Ola to
operate in Goa, for which entire responsibility shall lie upon the
office-bearers of the taxi union(s)," Dhavalikar told reporters late on
Friday night, after striking taxi operators extended their one-day strike by another
day to Saturday.
The strike has been called by tourist taxi associations in North Goa and South
Goa districts, protesting against the implementation of speed governors on
tourist taxis, harassment by Transport Department and police officials.
The strike was extended by another day, after taxi union operators said that
the state government had failed to give concrete assurances to the taxi
operators, who staged a demonstration in the state capital.
Dhavalikar claimed that the state government had taken a "strong
view" of the strike and those taxi operators whose services had been hired
by various government departments for officials or official work and did not
report for duty.
"I have directed the government departments concerned to send a report to
the government and we shall decide on their termination and suspension of
permits in due course of time," Dhavalikar added.