PANAJI: Young couple from Delhi eagerly called in 2022 at nightclubs at the arpora-anjuna border, only 3 km from their resort in Saunta Vaddo, Calangute.
However, joy quickly failed when the taxi driver outside the resort quoted Rs 2,000 for a one-way trip to their destination.
Costs, amounting to more than Rs 600 per km, are just the beginning.
The couple was quoted by Rs 5,000 for a one-way trip to offshore casinos in Panaji, which they immediately rejected.
“We expect everything expensive in Goa, what with it becomes a top tourist season and all, but taxi rates that increase are just extraordinary,” Manav Kapoor said, which is a partner at an international travel agent.
“We are left without choice but to pay Rs 2,000 to travel to the nightclub in the Arpora.
To return to the resort at 2am on New Year’s Day proved to be more expensive.
We quote a number of Hospital 3,500 brought to Rs 3,000 after a hard bargain , “Kapoor said.
The pair of Kapoor, who now decided not to visit Goa at least for three to four years, was among a number of tourists who were beautified by taxi drivers along the North Goa tourist belt.
Many also complained about most of the taxi drivers who were lacking and disrespectful, even for women.
“When someone does business, something is called ethics,” a woman’s tourist from Kolkata who doesn’t want to be named after, said.
“I only quote the RS 2,500 rate on New Year’s Eve to get from Calangute to Anjuna.
When the driver refused to reduce the pace, I felt annoyed and told him that I paid him to take me to my destination, and not to help him fulfill the next EMI.
He Taking back and told me that if tourists are willing to spend a large selection of airline ticket prices and entertainment during the peak season, they are also able to pay higher taxi rates.
He drove before I could even answer, “he said.
Laximan’s Union Leader Taxi ‘Bappa’ Korgaonkar, while talking to TOI on behalf of his brotherhood, denied scary examples.
The Directorate of Transportation State has limited the price of yellow-and-black taxis to Rs 21 on KM, while tourist taxi fares have been repaired.
In addition, the installation of meter digital costs has been mandated to ensure that commuters are not excessive.
“Tourists must complain of complaint cells, local RTO or even jurisdictional police so we can take action against certain taxi operators.
With digital tariff meters installed in a taxi, tourists must demand the flag driver from the meter,” Deputy Director of Transportation, said Francis Vaz .
Transportation Minister Mauvin Godinho said he had received several complaints about the incident and added that the transportation directorate would begin actions against violators.
“We are in the process of streamlining all transportation systems and having, therefore, introducing digital meters.
However, there are people who like to violate the law.
Until they work together, it becomes difficult because we cannot continue to catch them and take action against them , because it will cause many problems.
We carefully work on steps to develop a system where they will not be able to do things like that, “he said.