Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: The issue of Goa’s taxi sector once again took centre stage in the Legislative Assembly, with the government announcing that the existing Transport Aggregator Policy will be scrapped once a new Digital Taxi Policy is finalized.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the current aggregator policy has already been kept in abeyance and will be withdrawn once the new digital taxi policy is brought into force.
“The aggregator policy has been kept on hold for the last eight months. Once the new Digital Taxi Policy is finalized, the existing policy will be scrapped,” Sawant told the House.
During the discussion, Alemao raised concerns over who controls the taxi market in Goa and questioned the role of taxi aggregators. He also pointed out that a majority of taxi operators have opposed the draft Transport Aggregator Guidelines.
According to Alemao, nearly 93 per cent of taxi operators have expressed opposition to the draft guidelines, submitting objections and suggestions to the department. He emphasized that taxi owners and drivers are not merely service providers but ambassadors of Goa’s tourism industry.
“Since this government has come to power, our taxi brothers are in pain. There should not be any compromise on their welfare,” Alemao said.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho informed the House that the government is attempting to build consensus among stakeholders before implementing the new digital taxi system. He said that a committee comprising representatives from all 36 taxi associations has been constituted to submit their views and objections on the proposed digital taxi policy.
Godinho added that the associations have been given eight days to provide their feedback so that the government can move forward with the policy after taking all stakeholders on board.
The minister also stated that most taxi operators had initially agreed to the idea of a digital system, but a few later opposed app-based platforms. Despite the government accepting several demands of the taxi operators, some groups continue to remain adamant, he said.
Highlighting the usage of app-based services, Godinho said that around 15 per cent of Goa’s population currently uses the GoaMiles platform. He added that several initiatives have been undertaken by GoaMiles for the benefit of Goan drivers.
The government, he reiterated, wants all taxi operators in the state to eventually come on digital platforms to improve transparency, accessibility and efficiency in the sector.
