THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Kamlesh Vora
The Goa government is deliberating the pros and cons of app-based taxis in Goa. No doubt such a facility is needed, more for tourists than local residents. However, their first priority should be to provide reliable, readily available local transport, within a city, across Goa for senior citizens, housewives, school-going children, daily wagers etc. At present, we have, for transportation, in-town auto rickshaws - which are stationed at pre-allocated stands and charge a return fare for returning to that stand empty and some public buses with long intervals and waiting at every stop for soliciting the customers. I am not sure, but maybe there is a rule forcing autos to wait only at a stand for which they have approval. Further, the auto rickshaws will be hardly available on Sunday and early morning or late evening. The bus routes have not been increased in cities - where local buses are there, though cities have expanded exponentially in all directions. In fact, there are no changes in these situations in the last 40 or more years. This has forced the residents to buy more than one vehicle per household (as per a recent press release which said Goa is with one of the highest vehicle ownership per capita). Now in any business area of the city in Goa, it is difficult to get parking for even two-wheeler, forget four-wheelers during peak hours. It is not uncommon to observe even daily wagers, domestic workers, and children having their own mobility solutions, though they cannot actually afford them, considering their purchase cost and fuel cost. The plight of senior citizens is harsher. What happens in such a case to a senior citizen who is on his own? Solitary confinement.
It is high time the Government takes some steps immediately to mitigate such a situation. Firstly, change rules and allow the auto rickshaws to wait wherever they want for passengers. If a rickshaw takes a passenger to say, at Goa International Centre at Dona Paula, the driver may like to wait to say at Manipal Hospital or Goa Hospital to get customers. A shop owner then may prefer to take an auto for a short distance of 2-3 km from his house as he is assured of an auto some corner within walking distance.
Secondly, such changes will automatically generate more demand for more auto-rickshaws. The Government can quickly come out with a policy for subsidies for e-auto rickshaws.
Thirdly, the Government may also consider allowing six-seater rickshaws which may operate on arterial roads with fixed fares, and fix routes with facilities to get in and get down anywhere.
There may be many such innovations that policymakers can think about and implement. What is a “Smart City” if there is no proper locomotion facility for local residents? Such improvements are not rocket science and can be easily implemented. In fact, these will help improve GDP. They should consider the immense benefit such improvement will bring one go. No doubt, it will generate employment for youth. This will also increase the “ease of leaving Index” for Goa and increase the “Happiness Index” of local residents. What is needed is to realise the problem and will to resolve them.
