Ajinkya Savant
Where most of the local transport (taxis and rickshaws) lie idle at the stands and the roads are missing the bustling transport system as seen in metros like Mumbai, which makes traveling so much easier, Goa as a State needs to stop its taxi association from dictating terms on how the common man travels and how much he pays.
The demand and supply ratio is totally askew. Bringing in app-based bookings, will not only solve the problems faced by tourists and locals, but will also benefit the taxis in the process.
People will start relying on apps and will get a fair cost to pay for their rides. Transparency in costs as the price is determined by the app servers based on fixed algorithms. Due to increased demand seeing the decrease in price, more cabs will be booked at a very frequent rate, which will thus ensure that all taxis get frequent business and the stands are not idle. More frequency in taxi bookings means taxi owners get more money, more frequently. Apps like Ola also have services for autos, so local rickshaws will also be in the loop, ensuring business for them as well. Ola also has two-wheeler services, so the local pilots in Goa also need not worry. With the introduction of such apps, the taxis, rickshaws and pilots will be engaged for a majority of every day and this will have a positive impact on their incomes, so the question of ‘we will not get business when the apps come’ is only absurd because it is the local taxis, rickshaws and pilots who will be the first people to tie up with the apps.
Healthy competition in the prices and apps will ensure fair trade and just practices in the transportation system in the State. The government can also charge a commission from the apps because Goa being one of the most-frequented tourism destinations, is a large untapped market for the app companies and they wouldn’t mind expanding their business to such green pastures at a slight commission. Lastly, any State looks like a sick man if all the infrastructure built is not being utilised appropriately. Taxis stands should have less taxis at any point. Instead, all taxis are waiting, prying for customers. That is a clear sign that there is something wrong with the system.
