Panaji: Chaos erupted at Goa's Manohar International Airport in Mopa on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of tourists and air passengers stranded. The disruption was caused by taxi drivers who blocked the main road leading to the terminal in a dramatic protest against newly implemented parking charges they deem exorbitant and impractical.
What Sparked the Taxi Drivers' Protest?
The core of the dispute is a new system introduced by the airport's parking contractor. The rule mandates that taxis and private vehicles must pick up or drop off passengers within a strict two-minute window during peak hours. If a vehicle exceeds this limit, it is immediately charged Rs 180. The fees escalate sharply with more time: taking seven to twelve minutes costs Rs 338, and exceeding twelve minutes incurs a charge of Rs 508 plus an additional penalty of Rs 1,000.
These stringent charges are applicable during designated peak periods from 1 pm to 3 pm and again from 9 pm to 11 pm. Even during off-peak hours, drivers are only given a marginally more generous five-minute grace period before similar rates kick in.
"This is Dadagiri": Drivers Decry Unreasonable Policy
Transport operators and local drivers have slammed the system as unworkable. A taxi operator from Calangute expressed the collective frustration, stating, "If we take more than two minutes, we have to pay at the departure gate. This is 'dadagiri' (arm-twisting). We have to pay to pick up passengers, and now we have to pay to drop them. To survive, we will have to pass this cost on to the passengers."
The protest quickly led to a massive traffic snarl near the airport terminal as drivers confronted the contractor. Enraged taxi drivers accused GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) of intentionally harassing them through such unreasonable policies. When approached for a statement, GGIAL did not respond.
Passenger Woes and the Human Cost
Beyond the financial burden on drivers, the protest highlighted the impracticality of the two-minute rule for passengers. Drivers argued that during peak hours or when assisting senior citizens, persons with disabilities, or families with heavy luggage, expecting a vehicle to clear the forecourt in two minutes is utterly unreasonable.
The resulting blockade stranded flyers, turning travel plans into a nightmare and casting a shadow on the tourist experience in Goa. The incident raises serious questions about airport management policies and their impact on both service providers and the traveling public.
