police complaint filed against taxi operators from any tourist tourism benefits should go to locals lending its voice in support of the local tourist taxi operators ranjan solomon of the centre for responsible tourism stresses the need for the government to intervene to ensure a levelplaying field for all players in the taxi business despite there being an agreement with the beach resorts to have a taxi counter inside their premises none of them have one a taxi counter will allow a customer to a hire a vehicle of his choice and avoid any potential dispute over rates we are of the view that the ultimate benefit of the tourism industry should go to the locals we do not want locals to be displaced by the big players in the industry says solomon adding a holiday is where you rejuvenate your mind and one does a great service to a holidaying tourist by connecting him to the richness of goan heritage bet on a local tourist taxi driver to do this anytime readers weigh in first my hearty congratulations to toi for raising this vital issue that effects goas now sole revenue earnertourism it is really commendable of toi to highlight this vexed problem of how a section of the tourist taxi operators fleece gullible tourists that visit our beautiful state with the state government still helpless in resolving this matter but what was really shocking to me was the manner in which goas transport director arun desai sought to absolve himself and his department of all responsibility by passing the blame on tourists who are unable to follow up on complaints by prolonging their stay has desai created sufficient awareness among tourists about the recentlylaunched sms complaint service51969 how many complaints made to this number have been promptly registered and swiftly acted upon by directorate of transport officials what about complaints made to local police stations how many have been followed to the logical conclusion especially those made by local representatives of tour operators who reside in goa can toi please highlight this vital aspect as it would serve as a major boost in further improving as well as curbing the present irregularities observed among taxi operators who are known to overcharge their clients perhaps the recent decision announced by the union transport minister nitin gadkari of scrapping rtos that have been acknowledged as hotbeds of corruption throughout the country may ultimately prove to be a right move in public interest but who knows gary azavedo