Goa has long held its place as one of the most sought-after travel destinations, not just in India but around the world. Its sun-kissed beaches, vibrant culture, and suse-gaad vibe continue to attract millions of tourists year after year. But while Goa may still be seen as paradise to many, for those trying to get around, it’s fast becoming a logistical nightmare.A recurring sore point for visitors is the challenge of finding reliable, affordable taxis. Complaints have become common-place, and social media is littered with stories of visitors struggling to find cabs or being quoted exorbitant fares. A recent viral video highlighting the issue sparked widespread debate and reignited scrutiny into Goa’s transport system.While two app-based taxi services — GoaMiles and the Goa Taxi App — are currently operational in the state, neither offers the seamless, user-friendly experi-ence that travellers have come to expect from big players like Uber and Ola. The absence of large aggregators has left a gap that government-backed initiatives have attempted to fill — with mixed results.Two apps, one problemGoaMiles was launched on August 6, 2018, by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), intended as an ef-ficient and affordable option that also empowered local taxi drivers. Yet, not all drivers were willing to register with GoaMiles. In response, the state govern-ment launched a second digital platform — the Goa Taxi App — aimed at including operators who had refused to sign up with the first.At the launch, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had acknowledged the frustra-tions of tourists, admitting it was unfair that a taxi ride from the airport could cost more than the airfare to Goa itself. “It is unfair that airfare is less than the taxi fare,” Sawant said. Despite these ac-knowledgments, ground realities haven’t shifted dramatically, and new reports of altercations — sometimes involving tour-ists, sometimes drivers working for app services — continue to surface.The issue has snowballed into a larger threat to Goa’s tourism-dependent econ-omy. Stakeholders have begun to see the broken taxi system not just as an inconve-nience, but as a deterrent to travellers and a risk to the industry’s reputation.Government’s push for tech-based solutionsRecognising the need to improve in-frastructure and streamline tourism ser-vices, especially in the wake of mining’s collapse in the state, the government has shifted its attention squarely onto tour-ism in the 2025-26 budget. Chief Minis-ter Sawant announced a revenue surplus budget with several incentives, including tax benefits for those setting up starred hotels in rural areas and full SGST reim-bursement for large-scale tourism-related investments.Director of Tourism Kedar Naik, in a statement to O Heraldo, addressed the persistent taxi issues directly. “The De-partment of Tourism acknowledges the concerns regarding high fares and incon-veniences related to taxi services in Goa. Seamless and affordable transportation plays a crucial role in enhancing the visi-tor experience, and we are actively work-ing towards solutions that benefit both tourists and local taxi operators.”He added that the department is work-ing with stakeholders — including GoaM-iles, the Goa Taxi App, and Blue Cab — to provide “reliable, transparent, and fairly priced transport options.” Importantly, the government is now exploring a uni-fied digital platform that brings together all aggregators and traditional operators to standardise fares, improve accessibili-ty, and ensure safety. “This initiative will streamline oper-ations, ensure fare standardisation, and provide tourists with easy access to ver-ified taxi services through their smart-phones,” Naik said. “We appreciate the feedback from tourists and stakeholders and assure them that Goa’s tourism sector is continuously evolving to provide world-class services while preserving its unique charm.”Dissenting voices: Traditional taxi operators push backNot everyone is convinced by the gov-ernment’s plans. Former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao believes app-based taxis should be strictly regulated. “They should drop the passengers near the hotel and leave the place immediately,” he said. “Only taxis run by the hotels should be allowed to operate from the hotel prem-ises.”Sudip Tamankar, General Secretary of the All Goa Private Bus Owners Asso-ciation, echoed these sentiments with a harsher tone. “Who will travel in taxis?” he asked rhetorically. “There’s an attempt to push app-based taxis for commissions. Officials only care about their cut — not about the taxi operators.”According to some operators, taxi fares are unfairly compared to airfares. “The Chief Minister says taxi fares are more than flight fares. But a flight fare is for one passenger — a taxi can take six to eight people. And the fare is based on distance, not per head,” said a driver who requested anonymity.Others say comparisons with metro-politan areas are flawed. “Goa cannot be compared to cities like Mumbai or Delhi. Here, we often don’t get passengers for return trips. How are we supposed to sur-vive on one-way fares?” said another op-erator.Many local drivers feel vilified despite having supported Goa’s tourism growth for decades. “It’s because of us that tour-ists could move around. Now we are be-ing blamed for harming the sector,” said a driver. Another added, “We were told to install digital meters as per High Court or-ders, and promised reimbursement — but we still haven’t received anything. Mean-while, fuel, road tax, insurance — every-thing is going up.”There’s also concern about the incon-sistent application of technology. “In for-eign countries, taxis come with built-in speed governors and panic buttons. Here, we’re asked to install them separately at our own cost,” he said.Some operators argue that if a single, state-fixed fare structure were intro-duced, they’d be happy to join app-based platforms. “We’re not against technology. But there should be uniformity. Right now, apps charge as per their whims. Let the government decide the rate with stake-holders and apply it across Goa. Then let the customers choose.”Transport Minister: Most cabbies want the appTransport Minister Mauvin Godinho has said it is high time taxi operators em-braced technology. “They can use any app they want — even build their own. The government will fund it. What we need is data for planning. We’ve spoken to opera-tors, and most want an app. Only a small section is resisting change.”He also criticised the lack of compli-ance. “We gave digital meters as per court orders, but they’re not being used. Then the government gets blamed for inaction.”TTAG, industry push for regulation and techThe Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has long advocated for regu-lated, app-based taxi services across the state. President Jack Sukhija stated blunt-ly: “Goa absolutely needs the option of app-based technology. It should be avail-able everywhere — not just airports or a few hotspots.”At the Goa Tourism Board meeting earlier this year, stakeholders demand-ed stricter enforcement of standardised taxi fares at key entry points like airports, rail stations, and cruise terminals. They also pushed for immediate adoption of digital platforms and the formation of a joint monitoring committee to prevent ex-ploitation of tourists.“We’re real Goans — we don’t harass tourists”Sunil Naik, President of the North and South Goa Taxi Operators’ Association, offered a different perspective. “Goa isn’t like other states. We don’t have metros here. And in rural areas like Valpoi or Col-vale, even getting mobile range is a prob-lem — forget booking via app. Even at Mopa airport, there are network issues.”He added that many drivers are senior citizens unfamiliar with smartphone tech-nology. “Some drivers are over 60. They don’t know how to use these apps.”He also raised the issue of migrant driv-ers, alleging that many of the negative in-cidents reported in the media involve out-siders. “We are real Goans. We never harass tourists. For us, they are our guests. If we treat them well, they’ll recommend Goa — that’s how we get more business.”The tension between tradition and technology in Goa’s transport sector is palpable. On one hand, tourists demand convenience, affordability, and trans-parency. On the other, local drivers feel squeezed by rising costs, unkept govern-ment promises, and an erosion of the in-formal system that once worked well for them.But with tourism becoming ever more critical to the state’s economy, a mid-dle ground must be found — one where tourists feel safe and welcome, and where local taxi operators are not left behind in the name of progress.