MOPA: The first flights to India’s newest and one of the grandest international airports landed on January 5, a month ago. But the promises made by the MLAs and ministers on having fully functional app-based taxi services with adequate availability, pre-paid taxis, etc. are still flying
in the air.
On January 24, the Mopa International airport crossed the one lakh passenger movement mark within 20 days of opening. That is roughly an average of 5,000 passengers every single day. However, officials who are closely monitoring the logistical part of the airport informed that the taxi movement at the airport is falling short.
Except for the Goa Miles with a reported cab shortfall (and the purported Goa Taxi app), there is no taxi app functional and serving the airport at present all the assurances that the government made before the opening of the airport have fallen flat. But passengers and those at the airport opine that this fleet is simply not enough to cater to the demand.
After a lot of deliberations, cabinet decisions, and also an announcement to have blue cabs the government hasn't been able to break ground in fulfilling these assurances.
On-the-ground feedback suggests that the Goa Taxi App engagement is hardly 10 vehicles. The app does not have taxis after 6 pm in the evening. Because of all this, the passengers arriving at the airport have to wait for a long time to get a ride to their destination.
The ‘Yellow-Black’ taxis or the newly pitched ‘Blue’ taxis could have proved to be handy to fill in for the gap of taxis. Assistant Director of Transport Francisco Vaz said, "400 taxis left from Mopa airport on Wednesday. Though it is in the initial stages, there will be a requirement of more taxis later on.” When asked about the counter for yellow, black taxis he said, "The process is underway.”
However, taxi associations from Pernem who have been asking for a counter, have complained that the government is deliberately delaying their request.
Suresh Parab, President of the Together for Mopa Taxi Union said "Nearly 1200 persons from Pernem have applied for taxi permits for Mopa airport but the authorities are not processing the applications.”
"While we are being made to wait for the permits, the Road Transport Office is giving out permits to non-Goan firms for vehicles. They are opening counters at the Airport and are operating like a fish market," Parab said.
To add to the deficit of taxis the Pernem local tourist taxis have still not come on board as their demands are yet to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, the local taxi operators have complained that while they are not being given permits for taxis, many taxis of vendors who are non-Goans are being given permits daily. "Time and again we are being cheated by the Government," said Parab.
Meanwhile, the concessionaire of the airport GMR has floated a tender for a 24-hour taxi service provider to at least 10 prime destinations of Goa including the Dabolim airport and major railway stations in the State.
In addition to that GMR has also started promoting self-driven rent-a-cabs through their social media handles.