Goa Govt To Stay Firm On Decision To Introduce App-based Taxi Services, Says It Will Enormously Benefit Tourists And Local Commuters

Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has reiterated that the BJP-led state government is firm on introducing app-based cab services and will not bow down to pressure from the private taxi lobby which is against it.

Godinho was participating in a discussion yesterday (Jul 19) during the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

The private taxi operators have been opposing the app-based cab services, claiming it will destabilise their business.

When asked whether the government will go ahead with the app-based taxi service despite taxi operators vehemently opposing it, Godinho said, “Let those who want to oppose, do it. Their job is to oppose but not all taxi operators are opposing it. There are few taxi operators who are instigating others to oppose the app-based taxi service. I have done a deep study of it.”

Godinho argued that introduction of app-based cab services will enormously benefit the tourists and commuters in the state.

Pointing out that the tourist state is getting a bad name due to exorbitant rates charged by private taxi operators, Godinho said that the government will not allow taxi operators to hold decision making to ransom.

"This is not correct. There should be a change, there has to be smooth transportation in the State,” he said.

Godinho said the taxi operators were opposing the government's decision every time (it plans to introduce the app-based service).

The minister said all taxi operators are not opposing the concept of app-based services. A few of them are instigating others against it, he added.

The Goa government will take the taxi operators into confidence before introducing the app-based cab services in the state, he said.

Opposing the government’s move, Goan People's Party leader and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the taxi operators should be brought on board over the issue of introducing app-based taxi service.

If the government has made up its mind to introduce app-based taxi service in the State then it should convince the people. Development has to be by consent.,” said Sardesai.

The opposition members said the introduction of app-based cab services should not hamper the existing taxi business, which is one of the oldest tourism-related activity in the coastal state.

In April 2021, taxi operators in the state went on a strike demanding an immediate scrapping of GoaMiles, a cab aggregator service, backed by the state tourism development corporation. They claimed that the app-based cab service will impact the livelihood of nearly 30,000 private tourist taxi operators in the state.

A large section of tourist taxi drivers in Goa have often been accused of overcharging, intimidating and operating in an unregulated environment.

Following a slew of complaints, the state Tourism Ministry in 2018 started 'GoaMiles' as an outsourced private app-based taxi service.

(With inputs from PTI)