Team Herald
PANJIM: Even after making several statements that the new Goa taxi App would be discussed in the cabinet meeting, the same was not brought before Wednesday’s Cabinet as the State government had not spoken to a single taxi operator.
Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that a joint meeting with Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte will be held to finalise the app.
“The Goa Taxi app proposal was not placed before cabinet today. The app service will commence its functioning from Mopa airport. We are looking forward to streamlining the taxi system,” he said.
Before approving the App in the cabinet meeting, the government will call all stakeholders at least for one meeting, listen to them and accordingly make some changes what they feel are appropriate. The meeting with taxi operators will be held post Christmas, that is either on December 26 or 27, barely a week before the flights either take off and land at the Mopa airport from January 5, next year.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said that the App was not discussed in the cabinet meeting because the government is bringing about further improvements and adding some other things.
“We want to get really a good App where they (taxi operators) also will not be able to say no,” he said.
“The discussion would be held with taxi operators and other concerned stakeholders before placing the App proposal before cabinet for its approval. We would seek inputs from them and undertake necessary changes in the app,” Godinho said.
Godinho said that the public will have a choice of mode of transport at the international airport at Mopa including yellow and black taxis.
Even if the taxi operators agree to join the State taxi App service, will seven days be enough for the taxi operators to learn the ropes? A question that hangs over the transportation network to be established at the Mopa international airport, set to commence its operations from January 5, 2023.
