Taxi Operators at Goa's New Mopa Airport Strike Over Demands

Tourist taxi operators at Mopa's new international airport in North Goa's Pernem town held a day-long strike on Thursday. They demanded action against what they termed illegal transport activities at the airport. Despite the protest, passenger and tourist transportation at Manohar International Airport remained unaffected, according to sources from GMR Goa International Airport.

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In the evening, Pernem MLA Praveen Arlekar announced that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant would meet with the protesting taxi operators and other stakeholders around noon on Friday to address their concerns. Earlier attempts by Arlekar and Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to pacify the protesters were unsuccessful as they insisted on meeting the Chief Minister directly.

Protest Involves Multiple Stakeholders

The protest saw participation from various groups, including beach shack owners, water sports facility operators, and members of opposition parties like Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Goa Forward Party. The taxi operators' demands included free counters at Mopa airport for those from Pernem who had given up their land for the airport, operational since January 2023.

They also called for an immediate rollback of high parking fees and arrival-pickup charges, which they claimed were increased without consulting local authorities. The protestors urged the airport management to halt illegal transport practices at the airport. They specifically demanded an end to rent-a-cab services operating from the parking area and the removal of illegal cab aggregator counters.

Government Response

As the agitation continued throughout the day, MLA Arlekar met with the protesters in the evening to convey that Chief Minister Sawant would meet them on Friday. This meeting aims to address their grievances comprehensively.

According to official data, approximately 500 taxis operate from Mopa airport. The taxi operators argue that they deserve better facilities and fair treatment due to their contributions to the airport's establishment.

The protest highlighted broader issues within Goa's transport sector, involving multiple stakeholders and political parties. The resolution of these issues is crucial for maintaining smooth operations at one of Goa's key transportation hubs.

The upcoming meeting with Chief Minister Sawant is expected to be a critical step in resolving these ongoing disputes. The outcome will likely impact not only taxi operators but also other stakeholders involved in Goa's tourism industry.