Goa Transport Minister Clarifies Remarks on Taxi Union Meeting
In a recent development in Porvorim, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has walked back his earlier claims regarding a scuffle between taxi unions during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the proposed digital taxi policy. Without issuing a direct apology to the unions, Godinho addressed the assembly to clarify his statements.
Minister Claims Unions "Misheard" His Comments
Speaking in the assembly, Godinho asserted that the taxi unions had "misheard" what he said about fights between them. He explicitly stated, "I did not say that there was a fight between them in the conference room while the meeting was going on. The meeting went on smoothly. On the contrary, I told the CM that they are so well behaved and that we will be able to crack our problem." This clarification comes three days after his initial remarks, which had sparked controversy.
Earlier Claims and Union Reaction
Previously, Godinho had alleged that some taxi union leaders attempted to hit each other over differences regarding the Goa Digital Taxi policy. These claims upset the unions, leading them to demand an apology from the minister. The unions expressed frustration over what they perceived as misrepresentation of their conduct during the critical policy discussion.
Focus on Digital Taxi Policy Goals
Despite the controversy, Godinho emphasized the government's commitment to implementing a digital taxi platform. He explained, "It is our endeavour to get them on a digital platform where fares are uniform. It should be one single rate and it should be available to the tourist on the mobile for point-to-point rates and the taxi fellow who needs to know how much he will earn." This policy aims to standardize fares and enhance transparency for both tourists and taxi operators in Goa.
The proposed digital taxi policy is part of broader efforts to modernize transportation services in the state, ensuring better service delivery and economic benefits for all stakeholders involved.
