Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Taxi owners from Panaji, Taleigao, and St. Cruz met with Minister Babush Monserrate to voice their strong opposition to app-based taxi and bike rental services operating in the city.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns over the impact of rent-a-car and rent-a-bike businesses on traditional taxi operators.
Minister Babush Monserrate stated that rent-a-car and rent-a-bike operations should be stopped immediately, emphasizing that their cessation would benefit all conventional taxi drivers in the state.
He further pointed out that 90% of taxi drivers in Goa are outsiders, urging local operators to develop their own app-based platform to compete effectively.
“The parking spaces in Panaji are completely occupied by rent-a-car operators, which is a failure on the part of the Transport Department. The Director of Transport is responsible for this situation,” said Minister Babush.
He added that he had previously raised the issue of rent-a-car operations during a cabinet meeting, which led to a halt in issuing new permissions for such services.
The taxi operators expressed their frustration, highlighting the growing challenges faced by traditional taxi services due to the surge in app-based rental businesses.
As the debate intensifies, calls are mounting for stricter regulation and a level playing field for local taxi operators in Goa.
