By Irfan Iqbal Gheta
The Goa Taxi Driver App is an idea whose time has come—or so believes Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho. Launched last Thursday, this much-awaited initiative aims to digitise the state’s taxi operations and give them a modern, transparent face.
But the move has sparked a polarising debate that refuses to die down. On one side are Goa’s traditional taxi drivers and operators, who have voiced genuine concerns that Goa is too small to accommodate players like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
Many taxi drivers are anxious about their future. What will happen to their livelihoods if app-based aggregators are eventually allowed to operate across Goa? Their apprehensions are not without basis.
In other Indian cities, Ola and Uber have been around for years. Have these platforms improved traffic conditions or consistently helped commuters reach their destinations faster? The record is mixed. Ride cancellations are rampant. Waiting times stretch during peak hours and in crowded areas like malls, railway stations, and tourist landmarks. Fare structures are erratic, and the algorithms that calculate them are opaque.
Drivers working under aggregators often say they have no control over fares and little understanding of how pricing is determined.
Many complain of meagre earnings while the platforms rake in profits.
Passengers, especially women, have also shared troubling experiences online—late-night rides marked by rude behaviour, demands for extra money, or worse.
Taking these realities into account, the Goa government has repeatedly clarified that the app is not a backdoor entry for Ola and Uber. Instead, this initiative seeks to empower traditional taxi drivers by introducing a fair, transparent system
that benefits all stakeholders.
It is now incumbent upon taxi drivers to move beyond the “my way or the highway” approach. They have an opportunity to engage constructively, come to the table, and understand why overdue reforms in transport policy are necessary.
The ball is squarely in their court.
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