Day 2: Striking tourist taxis continue to be off roads in Goa

Panaji, Feb 25: Tourist taxis across

remained off roads for the second day today as part of the ongoing strike opposing entry of a private cab player in the market.

While agitating taxi operators are expected to meet Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tomorrow at his official residence, the protestors continued to boycott work claiming that they were beaten up by police in an unprovoked attack on them. The protestors are agitating against the permission granted to Ola Cab, a private company operating a pan-India cab service.

The taxi operators, who agitated yesterday, were allegedly cane charged by police last night after a group of protestors blocked national highway at Porvorim near here.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the mob and arrested ten protestors. North Goa Tourist Taxi Operators Association (NGTTOA) General Secretary Vinayak Nanoskar said the strike was supposed to be withdrawn today as the Chief Minister is meeting them tomorrow.

"But right now, taxi operators have continued their protests to condemn the unprovoked cane charge against group of taxi operators," Nanoskar said. Hundreds of tourists remained stranded at various places including hotels and the airport as more than 7,000 taxis participated in the strike.

Visitors dragging their baggage and looking for a transport facility was a common scene near the airport at Vasco and also in the tourism belt.

Nanoskar hoped that the solution for the vexed issue would be arrived in tomorrow's meeting, even as Panaji civic body sealed the offices of Ola Cab after it was found that they did not have the licence to operate the office.

State Transport department said they have not allowed Ola Cab to operate in the state.

PTI