PORVORIM: Even as the Opposition demanded protection for local taxi operators without any backdoor entry to app based transport, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that an app-based taxi aggregator is the only solution in the interest of the tourism sector. The Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed a heated debate as the government pressed for introducing app-based tourist taxi service in the State while defending the existing Goa Miles aggregator service.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Opposition not to “politicise” the taxi issue and said that everyone should unite on a common platform to back the app-based taxi service.
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Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said, “The House is arguing on a service, where we have no intention to collect any commissions from the taxi drivers and the entire amount earned by them is remitted into their account. We don’t want to support something that is not in the interest of tourism and the State. The need of the hour is to have app-based taxi aggregators.” The Minister also said that the government can consider introducing family pension and insurance or educational scholarships to the taxi drivers from the five percent amount paid by the service provider, on gross revenue, to the government.
He said that Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had made it mandatory for Goa Miles not to collect any commissions from taxi drivers and the entire amount earned by the taxi owners is remitted into their account and that the service provider charges a convenience fee to the customer which is the source of revenue for the company.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo urged the government to see that protection is given to the locals involved in taxi business as tourism is the only surviving industry at present.
Earlier, Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao sought to know the general rate structure followed by Goa Miles also questioned the total revenue shared by the company with the government.
The Tourism Minister said that a total of Rs 3.34 crore has been collected as GST right from the inception in 2018. “If 1,000-1,500 taxis of Goa Miles can bring in this kind of revenue, one can imagine the revenue leakage that is presently happening,” he said.
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira pointed out that the cab aggregator was given relaxation in revenue share due after February 2021. The Minister replied that a notice has been issued to the company to pay the pending dues.
