Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Government has missed the deadline for launching the Goa Taxi app, envisaged to be the app owned by the taxi owners of Goa.
The Tourism Minister has said that while the government wants the app to start service earliest (he himself announced January 1 as the launch date at a function in Mapusa)
Taxi owners meanwhile have absolutely no intention to be a part of this app-based service and are not in any form of communication with the government.
“We won’t join the Goa Taxi app. However, the Ministers had come out claiming that they will call on all the taxi associations to join the app. But no one has contacted me. This shows that the Government has no intention to help the Goan taxi owners,” said Chetan Kamat, President of the All Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association Yogesh Govekar, a taxi operator said, “We are already owners of our taxi business. What is the Government talking about making this taxi owner’s app?” he said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte told reporters in Mapua, “For the last eight months we have been doing corrections. Today there are illegalities in watersports activities, shacks have set up beds on the beach, and taxis are an issue. The persons providing political umbrellas to these problematic elements need to understand that there is a need to undertake corrections of the areas which had problems.”
Meanwhile, tourists arriving in Goa have been hit with the complete chaos of unregulated taxi operations where fares are mindlessly quoted.
A tourist from North India Akash Datta said, “It is difficult to cope in Goa as there is no Zoomcar, Ola, Uber which led to monopoly of local taxis, who charge very high.”
A solo traveller, Naomi D’souza while speaking of her taxi experience in Goa said, “Since taxis and cabs are super expensive in Goa, I spoke to many local people and rented a bike at Rs 250 per day. Another cheaper way to travel is by booking cabs from the Goa Miles app which I didn’t know about until I went to Goa. It’s much cheaper than the regular cab fares in Goa.”
Member Goa Tourism Board, Sanjeev Sardesai said, “The Tourist Taxi operators were demanding US $50 (Rs. 5000) for a trip to Bogmalo and US $100 (Rs.10,000) for a Panaji return trip. I only hope that the above demand is a rumour, otherwise, it is a very serious act.”
“If immediate action from the Enforcement Officials – Police, RTO & Traffic Cell, to uphold the law are not seen, then either the officials are spineless or are corrupt. Such impotency to act, gives wings to these hooligans, who are deliberately spoiling the name of Goa,” said Sardesai.
All the civil aviation majors like Indigo, Akasa, Go Air, etc have already announced flights to Mopa beginning in January. The transportation deadlock is set to worsen in the month of January as the local taxis have denied getting on board for taxi service to and from Mopa airport.
“Taxi operators are already speaking of Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 one way charge from South Goa hotels to Mopa. If these kinds of rates are levied all businesses will start losing customers,” Nilesh Shah President of TTAG reminded.
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Liberation day deadline missed, now taxi app on New Year day
Tourism and IT minister Rohan Khaute on Monday stated the Goa Taxi app, which has missed its original launch date, will be ready in the New Year.
“The IT department has already created the application. Chief Minister has to call for joint meeting with IT and Transport department to give final touches and launching. We will launch the Goa Taxi app in the New Year,” Khaute said.
However, there is no clarity yet on the taxis which will be linked to the app and be available round the clock. There is no information or data on how many taxis have agreed to or will, onboard by January 1 which is about two weeks away
“There is little apprehension about people using taxis and with regards to Goa Miles and system of metering. Tourism has reached at such stage where we cannot be lethargic” Minister Khaunte said
