The hot topic this time seems to be GoaMiles. As an Indian visiting our home in Taleigao a couple of times per year, please allow me to present the situation from our perspective, i.e. we look forward to a hassle-free ride from airport to home, knowing/paying up front the exact fare, assurance that we are not getting fleeced, no demand from the driver for additional amount after getting into the taxi, no refusal by taxi driver to return change on arriving at destination.
On arrival, the first counter is that of a private company that uses taxis. While the fares differ, depending on whether a/c or non a/c, before or after 5 am, let’s assume the one-way fare here for Taleigao is Rs 1,500. Most arrivees assume this is the only taxi service, which explains the fact that most folks use it, just like I did before I learned of two more far lower-priced options that are buried in the far corner, past the turn for the exit to the street. So, the second stall that most folks don’t see is GoaMiles. On my arrival this week, the nice young guy patiently explained how it works. Fare here was Rs 721. Huge difference. Younger folks seemed to know about this, and I saw quite a few of them queue up here. The next stall is the Govt. recognised taxi service (GRT). This was approximately Rs 200 higher than GoaMiles, because there’s no waiting time, as opposed to the around 20-minute wait with Goa Miles.
Here’s what I propose.
Get rid of the private company that charges upward of Rs 1,500. If impossible to get rid of it, keep it exclusively for non-Indian passport holders, just like hotels that charge higher rates for foreigners.
Move both GoaMiles and GRT stalls to before the exit (and before #1 above), for visibility. The private company should be 3rd in line, not 1st.
For GRT, payment must be at counter, not to taxi driver. Last time I availed of this service – the fare was less than Rs 800, but at destination the driver claimed he had no change and pocketed Rs 1,000, which I could do nothing about. This service is necessary for those who may not have a mobile with which to register for GoaMiles, or may not be technologically savvy.
Understand and address any genuine, reasonable, valid concerns of taxi drivers/owners who oppose GoaMiles. What is the primary reason for their disagreement? Maybe there’s a taxi union fund from which they could be given what they need to be compliant with GoaMiles, e.g. mobile phone, help/training with installing and using the app, etc.
Please, taxi guys, make it easy for us to visit our homeland, and for tourists to visit. When friends, neighbours, co-workers ask about visiting Goa, I tell them how beautiful my Goa is, but that the biggest nightmare is getting around, as transportation charges are exorbitant. GoaMiles has been doing so much to help alleviate that perception; please do get on the bandwagon to help amchem Goa earn more by way of tourism. More tourists means more business all around for our Goa – accommodation, food, drink, sightseeing, transportation, etc. A win-win for all.
