Last year in August the taxi operators in Goa had observed a seven-day strike. The strike was called off after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured to look into their demands following a meeting with union representatives. The taxi operators had kept their vehicles off the roads since August 2 demanding, among other things, that the State government scrap app-based cab service Goa Miles. GoaMiles was launch in the State in August 2018.
Following a call given by North Goa Tourist Taxi Association’s general secretary Prakash Purkhe on January 25 this year that State government should shut down the GoaMiles app-based taxi service within 14 days, in February this year, three GoaMiles taxi drivers were assaulted, allegedly by private taxi owners, at Calangute. The assaults took place in three separate incidents on the same night of February 4, when the GoaMiles drivers had gone to pick up passengers.
The issue is burning, even though this has been lingering for over two decades. Industry bodies have come out in full support of app-based taxis and have even demanded that operators like Ola and Uber should also be allowed to come and operate in Goa.
Mangirish Salelkar, President of Goa Technology Association (GTA) as a representative of the IT Industry, has extended full support to app-based taxi service for Goa. In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant GTA put forward few points:
(a) Goa definitely needs a taxi app which can be very effective and user friendly solution to our employees and IT Professionals travelling from various towns and villages to the cities. Commuting to airport also becomes very convenient.
(b) When the Government wants to promote startups in Goa, I think a company like GoaMiles born in Goa, we need to support it. Else, there may lot of investors who may lose interest in investing in Goan startups and the industries.
(c) Goa Miles has been able to create a lot of job opportunities over the period in various roles. Technology based Startups and companies of similar nature are job creators and should be encouraged;
(d) On the side, We need to also encourage Goans and tourist in using taxis to reduce and avoid late night drink and drive accident cases. People can use this tax-app service for their comfortable travel;
(e) Technology is future and we need to take smarter steps in encouraging more app based taxi services in Goa like Uber and Ola too;
(f) Government can also propose to build a app-based taxi solution for the taxi association, which can go hand in hand along with current service providers.
Salelkar said, “On behalf of Goa Technology Association, I will be more than happy to add value using technology to make living in Goa smarter and safer.”
Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), the apex body of the MSMEs in Goa fully supports the app-based taxi services in Goa. President of GSIA Damodar Kochkar said, “Government should not only ensure that GoaMiles continue, but should also allow any other app-based taxi service aggregators such as Ola, Uber etc, to operate in Goa. It is a known fact that taxi operators, in the absence of digital meters and monitoring of taxi fares, are fleecing the tourists as well as the locals who avail the taxi services in Goa by overcharging with arbitrary fares. This has brought a bad name to Goa, at both the national and international levels, as a preferred tourist destination.”
He further added that “We have observed that if any of the supplier or client of the industrial unit comes to Verna Industrial Estate, they complain of being overcharged by the taxi operators. Also, if any of our clients stay in some hotel, we are not allowed to go and pick them up by this taxi lobby. This cannot happen in any democratic country where people should have the right to choose their means of transport.”
The Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have also welcomed the strong stand taken by the Chief Minister, the transport minister and the tourism minister in the case of tourist taxi operators.
GCCI President Manoj Caculo said “Goa is the only State in India where the taxis are running without fare meters. This has often led to large number of complaints of overcharging and harassment by tourists, bringing a bad name to the state and its tourism industry. Unfortunately, successive governments in the State have been succumbing to the pressure tactics of the taxi operators and also to the pressure from some of its own MLAs. Because of the Government dragging its feet, GCCI and TTAG had in the past approached the High Court which had given definitive directions to the State government to ensure that all taxi operators install fare meters within a specific time period.”
He further added that, “The taxi operators stand on being firm on non-installation of the fare meters and opposing the Goa Miles taxi service smacks of arrogance. They are now increasingly losing the sympathy of Goans.”
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Goa Chapter Chairman Atul Jadhav has appealed to the state government to remain firm on the stand taken and offers its full support the government’s decision to implement the use of digital meters on all taxis in the state to bring about transparency and offer convenient, reliable taxi services. CII also appealed to the taxi operators on strike to accept the invitation for the meeting by Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Transport to resolve the issue without any pre-condition.
He further added that, “Government should not succumb to the pressures of the taxi lobby in the state, but ensure that GoaMiles continues its operations and also allow other app-based taxi service aggregators to operate in the interest of the tourists, resident Goans and the industry. As the state lacks widespread public transport, there is a need for such reliable app-based taxi service providers to operate for a convenient and seamless mode of travel.”