Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (EP)

Mangalore, Aug 6: The legal advisor for Sullia Taluk Tourist Taxi owners and drivers association, B S Sherif lamented that competition between private vehicles and tourist taxies has creating problems for the taxi owners.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that private vehicle owners are paying just Rs 1,000 as life time tax whereas tourist taxies have to pay Rs 15,000 of tax per year.  Tourist taxies have to pay Rs 4,500 per their entry into other states whereas such rule does not apply to private vehicles.

As private vehicles are illegally soliciting passengers, tourist taxis which are legally authorized to take passengers do not get business, he said.

"If tourist taxis meet with accidents, the passengers are covered by insurance whereas passengers in private vehicles are not covered by insurance. The people should travel by tourist taxies considering it," he said.

Nearly 2000 people in Sullia running tourist taxies for their livelihood, are facing problems from private vehicle owners. 

"The police and the transport department should take stringent action against private vehicles who solicit passengers.  A month long awareness campaign will be held in August in this regard.  Vehicles which have school permits are also running their vehicles for passengers during school holidays and those also should be taken to task," he added.

President Jayanth Harladka, secretary Hariprasad, directors- Mohan, Balakrishna, Ravi, Diwaker, Damodar and Ganesh of the taxi drivers and owners association were present on the occasion.