Lockdown: Taxi business suffers without tourists in Goa

Panaji, May 6 () Even as the Goa government easedrestrictions on tourist taxis amid the COVID-19 lockdown,operators claimed that the move was of no help, as tourism inthe coastal state remains suspended.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, president of North GoaTourist Taxi Association Vasudev Arlekar said despite thestate government's decision to allow tourist taxis to resumeoperations, the business has not picked up.

"There are over 16 lakh four-wheelers in the state,which has a population of 15 lakh. Every household has a car.Our business is completely dependent on tourists and it cannottake off until tourism resumes," Arlekar said.

The associations former president Laxman Korgaonkarhad met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with several demands, hesaid.

"We had demanded that each taxi operator be paid Rs12,000 per month for next six months as compensation. Ourdemand still stands," he said.

Taxi operators were not able to pay their bankinstalments and the state government should take up the issuewith financial institutions, he said, adding that thegovernment should also postpone insurance renewals and waiveoff road tax. RPSARU ARU