Vasco: Close on the heels of complaints about tourists being harassed by taxi operators with overcharging, the Airport Authority of India is grappling with the problem of touting around the Dabolim International Airport, a senior official said.
Airport Authority of India (AAI) has communicated to the various authorities including state chief minister Pramod Sawant informing about the police inaction against the frequent touting at the arrival gates by unauthorized people, who even double up provide tourist taxi service, illegally to the passengers.
Goa Airport Director Gagan Malik said that the issue about touting around the Airport, specially at the arrival gates, have been discussed during various meetings with the authorities but has failed to be curbed.
“There are many people who crowd at the arrival gate of the airport who offer services like Taxi, illegally, to the passengers after they land in the state. That creates bad impression about the state to the travelers,” Malik said.
He said that the touting around the airport is illegal and it is for the state police to “deal with this menace with firm hand.”
While state airport has authorized counters for Yellow-Black taxi, app-based taxi service Goa Miles and another for Taj Hotels, the touts also hijack the passengers offering them taxi service outside the facility (airport).
Malik said that the taxis which are lined up on the highway running parallel to the airport offer rides to the passengers encroaching into the legal business.
As per the data, there are 350 Yellow and Black taxi and 110 vehicles attached to Taj Counter while several others enrolled with Goa Miles operating from the Airport.
“We have written to the chief minister and various other authorities including state chief secretary. Some efforts are being made from their side to control the menace, but police have to act in their capacity,” the Director said.
Airport Police Inspector Ravi Desai said that during the year total 95 touts have been booked under State Tourism and Trade Act. “They are produced before the authorities and fined for Rs 2,000,” he said.
Desai said that the Airport Police Station is facing staff shortage due to which certain difficulties in acting against the touts arise, but all the attempts are made to ensure that the touting is controlled.
He stated that putting up gates at entry and exit points of the airport to check the vehicular activity can go a long way. “We have requested the airport authority to give us a sentry gate at the exit points so that we can keep the force round the clock,” Desai said.
