Cabbies oppose parking fee hike at Mopa

Mapusa: Taxi operators at Manohar International Airport have opposed the recent hike in parking fees implemented by the Goa GMR International Airport Ltd (GGIAL) and have asked chief minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and find a permanent solution.
An increase in parking charges is an injustice not only to taxi operators of Pernem but also to the state at large, the taxi operators have claimed.
A source said the Blue Cab prepaid taxi counter and Goa Taxi services at Manohar International Airport were shut effective from Wednesday. GGIAL has done this citing security clearances and other reasons. The move had triggered significant discontent among taxi operators at the airport.
“There was a sudden closure of the taxi counter. Now, parking fees have been increased from Rs 80 for half an hour to Rs 250. It will not only affect the operators from Pernem but also operators across the state. This overnight increase in parking charges is an injustice to the taxi operators,” said taxi union leader Anand Gawas.
He said that taxi operators cannot park taxis outside and go for a pick-up inside the airport.
Taxi operators said that Dabolim International Airport, which has been in operation for years now, charges only Rs 50 for half an hour. GGIAL’s hike in parking fees in two years is an absolute loot on behalf of a private company, they said.
Taxi operators pointed to a meeting with the chief minister and other stakeholders earlier, wherein a prior agreement was made for consultation on parking fee hikes, which has now been ignored by the sudden implementation of new charges.