Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s recent assertion that Ola and Uber will not be allowed to operate in Goa comes as a disappointment to thousands of Goans who were hoping for a more convenient and affordable way to commute. Once again, the state government seems to have succumbed to pressure from a powerful vote bank—taxi operators—at the cost of a larger public interest.
For years now, Goa has struggled with a broken and inefficient public transport system. There is no metro, the intercity bus service is erratic, and the few pilot projects of shuttle services or shared transport initiatives have either failed or remain underdeveloped. In such a scenario, app-based taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber could have played a vital role in transforming mobility in the state, especially in high-density urban pockets like Panaji, Margao, Vasco, and Mapusa.
Yet, every time there is talk of introducing these platforms, the taxi lobby rises in protest, and the government buckles.
While taxi operators are indeed stakeholders and deserve fair consideration, it is deeply unfair that 15 lakh Goans and thousands of tourists are held hostage to the interests of around 20,000 taxi drivers. This is not just a case of lopsided governance; it’s a dangerous precedent where the louder voice wins, not the more rational one.
There is a strong argument for regulating app-based taxis, but there is absolutely no justification for banning them altogether. App-based taxis offer transparent pricing, convenience, safety tracking, and digital payments. More importantly, they empower users with choice. Today, people often avoid taking taxis in Goa due to exorbitant, non-metered fares and a lack of price consistency. With Ola and Uber, an average commuter or tourist would not be forced to negotiate every ride or overpay due to a lack of alternatives.
The introduction of such platforms could also ease congestion. Many Goans would opt for cabs over personal vehicles if the fares were affordable and the system reliable. This shift would reduce traffic, parking chaos, and even pollution. Isn’t that what any forward-looking government should encourage?
Unfortunately, the government appears more interested in protecting electoral arithmetic than enabling modern mobility. The CM’s message sends out a clear signal: appeasement trumps innovation. If Goa wishes to be a smart state and a tourism-driven economy, such regressive decisions only push it further into isolation and inefficiency.
Moreover, the refusal to bring in aggregators has economic consequences. Ola and Uber generate jobs—drivers have the flexibility to work on their own terms, and the model brings in accountability through customer feedback and ratings. Local drivers could join these platforms, benefit from better earnings, and reach a wider customer base. Instead of embracing this potential, the government has chosen to stagnate.
It is time for the people of Goa to demand better. Governance must be about balance—between the interests of workers and the rights of consumers. Between preserving livelihoods and embracing progress. The answer lies in regulation, not restriction.
A solution exists: integrate local taxi operators into a government-supported ride-hailing platform with dynamic pricing, transparent billing, and GPS tracking. Several states have experimented with hybrid models where both traditional and modern systems coexist. Goa must take inspiration from such examples rather than block change out of fear of protest.
Chief Minister Sawant must recognise that his mandate is to serve all Goans, not just a vocal few. If the state truly wants to solve its traffic mess, boost tourism, and improve quality of life, it cannot keep saying no to progress.
Because Goa doesn’t just need taxis—it needs choices. And it’s high time those choices were given to the people.
