As Goa stares at a stand-off between the government and the taxi unions, the issue of streamlining and regulating the taxi industry remains unresolved. Failure of successive governments and enforcement agencies to implement regulations and failure of the taxi associations to adhere to the law or upgrade themselves to app based digitised competitive standards has brought us to this unfortunate crossroads.

App based taxi aggregators give its user the luxury to book a cab at any time of the day at the push of a button, get an estimate of fare before travel, track the ride in real time and schedule a ride. Locals would use taxi services more liberally if rates are kept competitive, I don't expect the Goan scenario to operate at the tariffs of Mumbai but a definite climb-down from the current situation would be welcome. From avoiding the mad race for parking in cities, to dodging driving after a night out (and reduce drunk driving and it's consequences) to enabling elderly and dependents to taste freedom of travel, app-based taxis offer a promising option. 

GoaMiles, which is at the eye of the storm, provides the above (though there are some shortcomings in the app which need to be fixed). To travel  from Pandva Copel in Aquem to Maria Hall Benaulim, I received a quote for Rs 176 by an AC cab using GoaMiles, while a local taxi negotiated for Rs 400, the choice was obvious - I went with GoaMiles! The driver was a friendly Xaxtikar Goenkar and I loved the experience. An added advantage is, at the end of every ride you get a chance to leave a rating for your experience and the algorithm takes care of the rest. 

All are to gain from a system as such. Our taxi bhav will be rewarded proportional to the effort they put in and locals will use their services more which will compound their spike in income. For an international tourist destination like ours, taxis are, in a sense, mascots of brand Goa. They are the first to come in contact with tourists. It isn't uncommon to hear tourists sordid tales of exorbitant taxi fares or uncouth behaviour, which is arguably contributing to the tourism slump. 

To our taxicars : meters are mandatory. You have the option of continuing as is with meters or to digitise yourself and enrol into apps such as GoaMiles which is engaging the pre existing pool of taxis. Remaining in a state of static inertia will no longer do. Your own brothers, thousands, have gone the app way, they are doing legal business, do not obstruct them.

To the government : It has shown spine and stuck to its guns about letting GoaMiles continue despite threats to paralyze the State and cases of violence, do not give in, you have the support of the common man. Monopolisation should be discouraged, open the market to other players for healthy competition. The government may launch its own app-based platform, indigenously developed and managed, which will engage the pool of local taxis. It may further consider making the taxi owners part stake holders along with option of involving the public too, ensuing profits can be a big bonus along with jobs created! Meters are a must for all taxis, non compliant entities should be penalised. 

The common man is sick of being taken for a ride.