Street Voices: Is lack of affordable taxi services leading to unregulated rent-a-car business?

Published on:

28 Oct 2024, 2:59 pm

PANJIM: On Saturday 26^th October a speeding rent-a-car knocked down three pedestrians on the four- lane highway near Upasnagar junction, Sancoale, killing a 60-year-old on the spot and leaving two others grievously injured who later succumbed to their injuries. In this edition of street voices, Herald TV spoke to various people on the lack of affordable and convenient taxi services leading to unregulated and unsafe rent a car business.

Although Goa is a tourist destination, transportation is the biggest problems we face, whether it is the residents or the tourists. The taxi service started due to transportation problem. Because of less taxis they may have hiked the prices to make a living. When I go to other states I find the cheapest mode of transport to save money.

Tourists opt for rent a car but definitely they are unregulated. Lot of people are operating such rent a cars. But there is no regulation to check if the tourists who hire rent a cab are drunk.

Cecille Rodrigues Social Activist

Tourist opt for rent a car since they cannot afford taxis due to the pricing. This has to be controlled. The RTO should control the number of licences given for rent a car. They should now freeze the number of rent a cars.

The tourists drive carelessly since the rent a cars are cheap. Here they have the freedom to drink and drive after parties and no one checks. After the parties there are lot of accidents, since they don’t follow rules.

Peter D’Souza Social Activist

Any developed nation is seen as developed when the rich can travel in the public transport system. Goa has a poor transport system, so people opt for taxi services. The government cannot regulate or control the taxi services. So tourists hire rent a car.

It is a young generation and they follow Google maps and they don’t care about anyone. They constantly drive in ‘No Entry’ zones since Google does not show no entry roads.

Rui Ferreira Advocate

The way rent a cabs have spread throughout Goa. It is good, but the care are misused (by tourists). And who is responsible for this? It is the Goa transport minister. His attention is totally focussed on properties in Sancoale. They are troubling the taxi operators, even as they contributed to the economy. Government has to support them.

Transport Minister's attention is totally focussed on properties in Sancoale. They are troubling the taxi operators, even as they contributed to the economy. Government has to support them.

Tanoj Adwalpalkar Social Activist