PANJIM: While the tourist taxi operators have been accused of charging exorbitant fares prompting the government to support app-based taxi service GoaMiles, the year-old venture claims it has arrived at a better pricing formula considering that the coastal State has thin chances of return trips.
GoaMiles MD Utkarsh Dabhade has denied allegations that the taxi-app service is charging low fares to get an edge over the rivals. “We are not charging low, rather we have corrected the overall commutation pricing. If you considered other State and cities in India typical per km charges by drivers are Rs 8 to Rs 10 per km. Keeping in mind Goa is not a metro and chances for return trips are thin, we have arrived better pricing formula of Rs 22 per km for Sedan, which is quite highest in India and almost double what other aggregators are offering. Additionally, with whatever possibility of return trip, our taxi owner gets better per km rate,” he said.
As many as 1,450 taxi operators have joined the revolution since its launch last August. “They are earning their livelihood with utmost transparency. We have started with All Digital Operations, Digital Mobile App, Digital Payments and Digital Invoices for Passenger (Tourist/local Goan citizens) to see what’s the fare even before booking it,” he stated adding that with revolutionising the taxi business in Goa, locals as well as tourists have reposed trust in them.
The taxi operators have come at loggerheads with the State government over GoaMiles with the former demanding that the taxi-app service be scrapped. In what could be a show of strength, thousands of taxi operators will congregate for a meeting on Wednesday to oppose GoaMiles. “It is in the interest of local taxi operators to join as we don’t charge a single rupee from them, making this unique win-win situation for all,” Dabhade added.
The MD said on numerous occasions their drivers have faced the heat from local taxi operators. He stated they wish to hold peace talks with the taxi operators.
