Goa is one of the most sought after travel destination. Although tipped as a heaven on earth, the tourists coming here find commuting a hellish experience as they struggle to manage cabs at reasonable rates for themselves.
Also the fact that there is extremely less availability of big app-based taxi aggregators like Ola or Uber, only compounds to the woes of travellers. But, soon things might change for the better as the State is all set to launch it own app-based cab aggregator service called ‘Goa Taxi.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho informed that the taxi aggregator app ‘Goa Taxi’ will be jointly launched by the Tourism and Transport Departments and that the State-owned Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) will operate it.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a meeting in this regard with Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and Information Technology and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte expressed willingness to take all the taxi operators and concerned stakeholders into confidence while designing the app.
The Transport Minister also was heard saying that all the seven Taxi Associations will be contacted and requested to come on board. However, the ground situation is indicating otherwise.
With just 10 days for the launch, various taxi owners associations though have no intention to join the app have revealed that there has been no attempt whatsoever from the Government to get them on board.
The Taxi Operators from Goa have been in a constant battle with the Government over the promotion of app based aggregators. The opposition to the aggregator began in 2017-18.
Several meetings were held across the tourism belts of Goa to synergistically oppose the app. Thousands of taxi owners joined the cause. The protests also had an impact in the 2017 election where in the taxi issue became one of the important flashpoint between Government and opposition.
However, the government of Goa did no pay heed to the protest and launched the Goa Miles taxi aggregator in August 2019. The opposition by the taxi owners continued.
The government has been insisting that app-based taxi service is a need of the hour to ease the transportation system in entire Goa. The government had initially planned to introduce Ola or Uber app-based taxis in the State, however, the idea was dropped recently.
Now the government has decided to have ‘Goa Taxi’ application. This app will be developed by GEL. The government has claimed that all stakeholders have been taken into confidence. The Transport Minister and Tourism Minister have said that the app will be owned by the taxi owners, while Transport Department will be the regulator.
The CEO of Goa Electronics Limited Revati Kumar did not disclose much regarding the app but said that they will meet the deadline for completing the process to create the app.
Assistant Director of Transport Francisco Vaz informed that there are almost 11,000 registered taxis in Goa. When asked on how many taxi operators are willing to get on board, he said, “The app is yet to be created. No willingness is sought yet.”
The Tourism Minister had earlier this month announced the launch of Goa Taxi App on December 19, on the occasion of Liberation Day. Though the Minister did not speak of the willingness of the taxi operators, he said that all MLAs have agreed to his submissions that we need an app in place and that technology cannot be evaded.
When contacted, the members of the various taxi associations revealed that they have not got a single call or an invite from the Government or any competent authority.
Chetan Kamat, President of the All Goa Tourists Taxi Owners Assocation said, “The Minister says the app is compulsory. You have forced meters on taxi owners, no subsidy has been received yet, you removed the counter of Goa Miles at the airport for votes but now the counter is back.”
Kamat confirmed that no taxi association has received any call from the government or departments asking to join any app. “We won’t join the Goa Taxi app. However, the Ministers had come out claiming that they would call all the taxi associations to join the app. But, no one has contacted us. This shows that the Government has no intention to help the Goan taxi owners,” he said.
Kamat urged Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to study the matter before taking any steps. He has called on taxi owners from Pernem to come out in large numbers and join their movement against the app-based taxis while warning them that the app-based taxis at the new airport in Mopa too will also finish their business.
“The Tourism Department calling the shots for Transport department itself is objectionable. In fact, we feel that the Government is trying to covertly get taxi operators on board for the app in the name of registration of taxis for Mopa airport,” taxi operator, Yogesh Govekar alias Mogambo said.
“If the Government doesn’t roll back its plans to give the taxi business to app operators, we will hold the biggest agitation in Goa and the Government will be responsible if there is a law and order situation,” warned Govekar.
Rohidas Naik while criticizing the Government said, “He called us mafia, we are not mafia. He plans to get the app through GEL, we will not join that app.”
A taxi owner from Mandrem, Sanjay Korde, questioned the silence of the Pernem and Mandrem MLAs. “Both Pernem and Mandrem MLAs are silent. Why don’t they speak on the taxi issue now?” he said.
The taxi owners have collectively condemned the act of police of manhandling Valancio Rodrigues who tried to reportedly expose the misdeeds of Goa Miles.
A Black and Yellow taxi owner, Sunil Naik, warned that the Dabolim airport is surely going to close.
“I urge the 350 taxi men dependent on the Dabolim Airport to wake up. You are bound to starve and, at the end the minister will blame the taxi men,” Naik said.
When asked regarding the new Goa Taxi app he said, “The intention of government is quite clear. It is doing nothing to protect the interests and livelihoods of local taxi operators. The app based taxi pitch has been only to promote aggregators and not taxi business.”
“The CM had assured of holding a meeting with the stakeholders but no meeting has been held, he added.
Sunil explained how the government’s double standards are exposed after the tourism department has put up an advertisement on the newspapers inviting applications from tourism department from taxi owners for operating counter at Mopa airport.
“The permit conditions of ‘yellow-black’ taxis allows it to operate counter at airport. How tourist taxis can get a counter at the airports? This are absolute double standards,” he said.
Sudip Tamhankar has informed that he would take legal recourse to make sure the unemployed youth from Mopa get preference for operating taxis at the new international airport.
It may be recalled that the tourism department had advertised inviting applications from taxi operators to register for counter at Mopa airport.
“The Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC’s) advertisement is contradictory to the affidavit that Government swore in High Court. When I brought it to the notice of the GTDC they withdrew the advertisement. This means the government has no knowledge of law,” said Tamhankar.
Yogesh Govekar, added that that our taxi system in Goa doesn’t suit mobile application taxi aggregation.
“These statements claiming that we will be the owners of this app, is a farce. We are already owners of the taxis. Government saying we will be owners is just a diversion,” said Govekar.
The taxi owners of Goa have said that taxi operators from Mopa and the villages that lost their land had to get first preference at Mopa. But the government inviting applications from taxi operators across Goa is an insult to the taxi operators from in an around Mopa.
“Why is the tourism department taking decisions of the Transport Department? Govekar questioned.
