Goa, Oct. 2 -- In yet another instance of public pressure compelling the State to retreat, the Goa government on Monday was forced to put on hold the steep hike in parking fees at Manohar International Airport, Mopa. The decision came barely a day after it scrapped the controversial IIT project at Codar following strong community resistance.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, after meeting a delegation of taxi operators, assured that the parking fee increase - from 80 to 210 - would be kept in abeyance for three days. Taxi unions, backed by political leaders, will meet him again on October 3 to press for a permanent rollback.

The announcement followed a noisy protest outside Mopa airport, where hundreds of taxi operators carried placards and...