The threat of local taxi drivers to go on strike if Goa miles is not pulled out of doing business,
hasn’t impressed any Goans and locals. And for clear reasons. “If the local
taxi drivers feel that the Goa Miles is illegal, why can’t they go and file a
complaint or put a case against them. Can they? They cannot and that is because
an app based service is liked and loved by everyone because of its
convenience,” says Lenny Dias, a Marine Engineer who is a frequent taxi
user. He also says that this is the new technology and sitting at home anyone
can use the app and get a cab. “It depends on what the people prefer,” he adds.
“I just started using Goa Miles and it is so comfortable.
Honestly I feel less empowered when I don’t use it. That day I travelled from
Assagao to Panjim and to my surprise it only cost me 250 whereas if I had taken
a local taxi it would have been 800 or above,” expresses Shimonti Gupta who
recently began using Goa Miles.
According to her, it’s about once state of mind, if the local
taxi owners try and function under the app they too will get used to this mode
and everything will go on smoothly. “They should see the overall benefit,
including that of our state,” says Shimonti.
And yes, just like Shimonti suggested the local taxi owners
should join the app. This would draw more tourists, people would opt for taxis
than renting vehicles; automatically increasing the revenue. Many locals are
satisfied and happy with Goa Miles; they say that it is not just a miracle for
tourists but also them. Why would Goans want to support private taxis then? In
fact in all the other times where locals have complained against the
government’s unfair provisions, this time locals are pleased with the provision
of Goa Miles.
“We shouldn’t be having a war on the taxi mafia issue. As humans
we naturally prefer something reasonable and affordable. Finally when the
government actually came out with something good like Goa miles, the private
taxis are unhappy. It was obviously bound to happen we cannot go on wasting our
money and having the strike now is totally childish”, says Mary Pereira from
old Goa.
Similarly, Sanju Naik, resident from Aldonha agrees that the
strike is not justified in such a situation. “It’s not about business going
down here, these private taxi makes just one trip a day and expects to earn
ample amount of money like 1500 or more. Where is the hard work? At least the
Goa Miles driver, makes 5 to 6 times trips a day and earns the appropriate
amount one is meant to get at the end of a day.”
Besides this, Naik also mentions how many private owners are not
even registered and roam freely. “A yellow nameplate and uniform doesn’t assure
whether the number has really been registered. They are also not allowed to
park at stands anywhere and fleecing people by calling out – taxi?” he says.
If local taxis charge a decent amount, I seriously don’t mind
travelling with them. Sadly, that won’t happen. The local taxi owners shouldn’t
be in a rogue mentality and run their business. I have used Goa miles for quite
some time now and I’m happy with it,” affirms Aishwarya Guha, a writer from
Assagao.
It
is an age of technological development. How long are people going to go around
hunting for taxis? Some day the local taxi owners will have to accept this
change. Goans have already embraced it.
