Goa, a tropical paradise in southern India, is known for being one of India’s most happening tourist hotspots. However, despite being a tourist haven, the state has been known for its inefficient public transport and exorbitant travel costs, especially for travellers. Now, the Government of Goa has proposed a draft to introduce and regulate app-based taxi services. Let’s understand what this move shall mean for tourists and taxi service providers.
Goa’s Transit Problem
Goa is known for its pristine beaches, happening nightlife, natural landscapes, and some of the best temples, churches, and historic monuments. However, despite being a tourist hotspot, the state has received plenty of criticism for being a nightmare for tourists. This holds especially true when it comes to transportation within the state.
The state has well-built roads and most cities and towns are well connected to each other, however, the means of transportation are very limited, and often inefficient. While public buses run throughout Goa, they are mostly inefficient and slow for tourists. On the other hand, taxis are reliable for tourists, but taxi unions charge exorbitant rates for the shortest of distances. In fact, many tourists have been astounded by the taxi rates that can be even costlier than the flight tickets themselves!
Moreover, there have been instances of taxi unions being hostile towards cab-hailing companies like Ola and Uber. In fact, these platforms are banned in the state.
App-Based Taxi Systems To Roll Out In Goa Soon
Now, the government of Goa has decided to introduce app-based taxi systems – a much-needed development for tourists. However, Goa, since 2018, has introduced its own taxi hailing app, GoaMiles. While the concept of a taxi hailing app by the government sounds great on paper, its execution hasn’t been up to the point. Many of the app’s services are not up the mark, only making it more difficult for tourists to move in and around Goa.
Realizing the need for a better, convenient transport system for tourists, the Goa government has officially released draft guidelines to make app-based taxis in the state a reality. This draft will pave the way for private aggregators, and this includes app-based taxi and bike services. The outline for the draft framework will include licensing fees, tariffs, and incentives as well. While the move has been largely opposed by local taxi unions who fear for their livelihood, the government is in talks with them to find a common ground.
Key Takeaways From The Draft By The Goa Government
Here are some of the key takeaways from the draft proposed by the government of Goa:
- Aggregators should ensure that vehicle drivers receive the entire prescribed fare without any deductions or delays. The fulfillment time of these payments must not exceed 72 hours.
- They (aggregators) must ensure health insurance for at least Rs 10 lakh with the financial year 2025-26 as the base year and an increment of 5 percent each year.
- Aggregators, if hiring female drivers, must offer them incentives such as insurance reimbursements and waivers of renewal fees. The health insurance for female drivers must also extend to their parents and children.
- Unlicensed operations or violation of license conditions shall result in a INR 50 lakh penalty as well as blacklisting of the person or aggregator. Plus, a violation of fare regulations may result in a penalty of Rs 5 lakh for each instance.
The draft guidelines proposed by the government on May 20 are currently under review (for 30 days from the date of publication). During this time, it will be open to public feedback.
Ferry Services On The Zuari River
While road transport is likely to receive a facelift thanks to the new draft guidelines, the water-based transport infrastructure in Goa will be taken up a notch too. Goa launched a state-of-the-art Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ferry service on the Zuari River.
The River Navigation Department of Goa is spearheading this initiative. This new RoRo ferry will reduce road congestion and improve travel efficiency, all while making transport more eco-friendly. The RoRo ferry service will open up a new means of transportation for both tourists and locals.
Summing Up
With the launch of app-based taxi systems, it is expected that the taxi-hailing infrastructure will receive a much-needed upgrade. Though taxi unions have dominated and established a monopoly in Goa, the new draft guidelines will try to find a common ground between taxi unions and private cab-hailing companies. So, what do you think of this move?
