After months of protests, petitions, and repeated appeals to the State government, Goa’s taxi and bus operators have finally received part payment of their long-pending fuel subsidy.
The disbursement — covering the period from June 2018 to March 2020 — was made following a court order and sustained pressure from transport unions, according to Sudip Tamankar, general secretary of the All Goa Private Bus Owners Association. He confirmed that dues for operators have been cleared, with funds reaching even those who had taken loans to keep their vehicles running. Around 300–350 crore is expected to be released under this exercise.
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While the payment has brought some relief, operators say uncertainties remain. Future disbursements are not yet guaranteed, and administrative fees under the Mhajhi Bus Yojana continue to burden them. So far, 57 operators under the scheme have received payments, though some allege that the distribution process has been uneven.
Permits, especially for airport taxis, remain another sticking point. Following discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the government sanctioned 200 permits for the new blue-and-white airport taxi service. Of these, 168 have become operational, while some remain pending or have been surrendered. Recently, 25 more permits were approved, bringing the total sanctioned to 90.
Operators say they will continue pressing for clarity on parking slots, loan repayments, and fare structures. “The Chief Minister has assured us of further steps, but we are still waiting for complete resolution,” Tamankar said, adding that concerns over fairness and transparency in the sector still persist.
