Goa’s first app
based taxis ervice has now cebome the new bine of contention of Goa tourist taxi lobby, the new “villain”
after rent a car services and outsider taxis which entered “other villages; to
pick up customers.
But the absence of a
cheap convenient, and either app based ir call services , is now hitting many
Goans, especially the young who would like to go to work and business meetings
and not have the hassle of parking, or going out in the evening and even drunk
without the pressure and tension of driving back
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Archie Fernandes,
Video Editor says a taxi has become necessary today, “You cannot expect the bus
to take you everywhere if you don’t have a vehicle. You definitely need a taxi.
Though I have a bike, I cannot travel with my entire luggage to the airport on
a bike right? I need a taxi, and if I’m getting a lesser rate taxi through the
app I’ll go for it. We have a right to use things that benefit us, and in no
way should we face problems from the other private taxi operators. Many don’t
use the app, but for those who do they don’t have to suffer paying too much.”
Archie also mentions that if the prices were low, taxis in Goa could be used
for several purposes without any regret.
Tourists arriving to Goa
have also faced problems. Divyank Patel, Education consultant and a tourist who
visits Goa every year shares her experience. “I came for vacation to Goa with
my family and kids and stayed at a hotel. The problem was that we ended up
spending more on taxis than our tickets, food, stay and shopping. Each trip to
far places were at least Rs1000 and above.” She also pities Goans who have to
travel to far places at times and need a taxi.
Taxis are required
for so many purposes in these days but locals find it as a high expense. While
the app-based taxis do a favor of giving a good rate, many Goans prefer having
their own personal taxi drivers. Debbie Nair, Furniture Stylist usually travels
from the airport to her house and she has a private taxi driver. “I just need
to give him a call so that he could come and pick me up from the airport.
Hence, I do not face any problems; I’ve been using the same taxi for a long
time now. Other than this I don’t use taxi much.I have my own private vehicle
to travel and I do prefer travelling by my own car than a taxi,” she shares.
Like Debbie, there
are many other Goans who have their own private taxi drivers. Ashton Souza,
proprietor of Cadbury consultancy is also one of them and says he prefers this.
“I have a person who gives me a good rate and I depend on him most of the
time.” Speaking of recent taxi problems, he suggests that app-based services
are good but they should hire our local Goan taxi operators, the situation
might get better. “If local taxi drivers do not get an opportunity there will
be huge loss of jobs, and loss of income. All these travelling apps need to
take local transport,” he says.
“I know there are a
lot of problems going on regarding the taxis. But, not many Goans actually
prefer using taxis because most of them have their own vehicles. The tourists
are the ones to mostly use taxis,” saysRupesh Kavlekar, Hotel Management.
He says that the
Goans who use taxis are normally the ones who do not own a vehicle and can
afford it. It also includes the ones going for a party in a location located
far away and do not own a vehicle.
According
to him, when a taxi charges RS500 from Panjim to Dona Paula it’s a waste of
money. Besides there are auto Rickshaws too, and even pilots for a single
person. “I do not think Goans are interested in using taxis, because they all
either have their personal taxi drivers,” he says finally.
