Team Herald
PANJIM: A delegation of taxi operators on Wednesday met the Director of Transport and opposed the Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025, which they claimed aim to bring all taxis under app-based services.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The taxi operators voiced their concerns over the move, citing threats to their livelihood.
But after the meeting, both the Director of Transport Polumatla P Abhishek as well as the taxi operators stated that the discussions were constructive and suggested implementing uniform rates that balance fair pricing for passengers while ensuring stable earnings for drivers.
“We had a productive and meaningful meeting with taxi operators and their leaders. We have proposed new framework and new ideas to the taxi Association and how they can improve their businesses and adopt new technologies to ensure taxi services are available as a matter of convenience. The taxi operators have requested that some time be given to them so that they can consult their own stakeholders. They are ready to work in a positive manner with solutions,” Abhishek said.
Abhishek said that the department has suggested solutions compiled in a booklet including all the aspects of solution. “We should adopt uniform rates and earning of drivers be protected irrespective of what kind of service and what kind of aggregator and also ensure convenience of locals and tourists.
We have discussed all the ideas and they are very positive and want to think of these ideas and get back,” he said.
On the other hand, the taxi operators said that the director explained to them and they told him that they would get back to him on various issues. “It was a successful meeting and we will give our feedback after which another meeting will be convened,” one of the operators said.
“We told our difficulties to the director and he suggested that series of meeting be organised to resolve our issues. The director also agreed that Goa cannot be compared with metropolitan cities. We are not joining app. We told him why app taxi service is not feasible in Goa.
