Taxi strike in Goa: Protestors demand to cut out speed governors

Panaji, January 19: Taxi operators called for a strike today and kept their vehicles off the roads of Goa despite the state government yesterday invoking the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) prohibiting the strike.

The strike, in which about 18,000 state's taxis are off the roads, left hundreds of passengers and tourists stranded at railway stations, the airport, and hotels. A fleet of 350 yellow and black pre-paid taxis which operate exclusively from the airport were seen ferrying passengers in the morning but later they also joined the strike. Hundreds of taxi operators gathered at the historic Azad Maidan in Panaji to express solidarity. The protestors are against the Supreme Court’s order to install speed governors

The state government, meanwhile, pressed into service private vehicles and buses to tide over the strike. The state-run Kadamaba Transport Corporation Limited deployed 25 buses to ferry airport passengers and seven buses to link railway stations, its managing director Deryk Netto said.

Airport Director BCH Negi said that the strike had not affected airport operations as adequate arrangements were made by state authorities.

Meanwhile, CM Parrikar has told that the installation of speed governors is mandatory as per Supreme Court guidelines and not installing them would attract provisions of contempt of court.