Hello Everyone, Thank you for your valuable time in signing the petition. We completed one week and received 6700 signatures. These are from India - 6275, UAE - 94, US - 92, UK - 86 , Kuwait - 32, Canada - 23, Australia - 22, Singapore - 13, Oman 11, Others - 68. Out of these, 2630 people commented. These comments were extremely helpful to define the change needed . This will help to define the requirements for Goa's Taxi System. Please find the list of comments at link, please feel free to circulate using WhatApp for general public awareness https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzbTfbYGazbwMjN5YXN3d04yMUk/view?usp=drivesdk (Note: first 3 pages are representative of most comments) Your inputs have created tremendous enthusiasm and response in social media, please find our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/forbetterpublictransport/ Some of the news article of progress are mentioned at the end of this update Here are few comments "I have trouble in commuting when I don't feel like driving as I have osteoporosis arthritis on my knees" "Lives can be saved by having genuine taxi services to assist the people who drink to reach home safe" "Absolutely a must in a place like Goa where public transport is not great, rickshaws are few and they don't run on meter and the cab guys charge you exorbitant. Infact the North Goa cabs are reluctant to go to south Goa due to the unions there. Uber and Ola will certainly be a boon to lot of tourists thus aiding the tourism industry of the beautiful Goa. Only hope and pray the cab unions will allow their smooth functioning" "I would like safe and affordable transport to commute alone in Goa. Depending on my husband for transport is severely limiting and inconvenient. Affects my work adversely" "Commute in Goa is a big Hassle. Specifically south Goa due to union.. It's cost more to travel in Goa rather than stay. Due to high expense it Commute tourist prefer cheaper transport medium like rent a bike.. Which also leads to breaking of traffic rules and accidents" "Being a Goan, sometimes it gets so hard to travel around, especially if u don't ride or drive. I become dependent on parents and/or friends who drive. Having a service as ola which provides runs by the meter and will come to your doorstep will be really helpful" "It's long overdue in a place like Goa where tourists often are victims of unscrupulous PVT taxi operators. Sometimes the flight fare from Mumbai is less than the taxi fare from airport to home. It is impossible to go put of home at night during an emergency if you don't drive. For old people it will be a boom" People are looking forward to Manoharbhai to resolve this issue. The fundamentals of Tourism require that when you go to a place you relax for enjoyable vacation but as per comments word "Taxi" in Goa is synonymous with Arrogant, Blackmail, Cartel, Cheat, Dadagiri, Dictate, Disgrace, Exorbitant, Extort, Extortion, Fed up, Fleece, Goondaraj, Goons, Loot, Mafia, Monopoly, Nightmare, OverCharging, Rip, Robbery, Stupid, Threat. The most significant issue for ALL Goan public is that their QUALITY OF LIFE is affected due to no proper taxi system and they have taken this life for granted. Factors: - People drop/pick others wasting time as a consequence is national loss. Also people wait or drop/pickup and is again national loss - People are forced to purchase more cars increasing state fuel consumption, traffic congestion and accidents - Parking problem - Taxis return empty (charge 4 times) increasing state fuel consumption Tourists are forced to rent cars and when they drink and drive there are accidents, People from neighboring states are forced to bring their vehicles into Goa and Government hasn't provided sufficient infrastructure, also these cars occupy space in the city. Thanks to Armando Gonsalves and team has been spearheading the campaign on the ground and had our first meeting on yesterday. Please find comments file attached. Thank you, Armando Gonsalves Avelino D'Sa Mahesh Sardesai Milind Barve Mousinho Reis Nilesh Borde Rohan Govekar 26 Apr 2017 Petition to CM to allow Ola,Uber goes viral on social media http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/petition-to-cm-to-allow-olauber-goes-viral-on-social-media/articleshow/58386156.cms 27 Apr 2017 Tired of taxi mafia: Petition seeking Ola, Uber in Goa goes viral. Read it http://wap.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/tired-of-taxi-mafia-petition-seeking-ola-uber-in-goa-goes-viral-read-it-117042700145_1.html 27 Apr 2017 Goans take to social media, back network tasis in State http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=27704&boxid=18451273&uid&dat=4%2F27%2F2017 28 Apr 2017 Ola and Uber will not be allowed, GTDC to develop its own app for taxi service - Nilesh Cabral, GTDC Charman https://chronicler.in/ola-uber-will-not-allowed-gtdc-develop-app-taxi-service/Goa/ 29 Apr 2017 Change is here. Goans want to tap a cab http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=27735&boxid=3501873&uid&dat=4%2F29%2F2017 30 Apr 2017 Taxi owners threaten to hold strike http://www.navhindtimes.in/taxi-owners-threaten-to-hold-strike/ 30 Apr 2017 Azgaokar wants local taxi owners interests protected http://www.navhindtimes.in/azgaonkar-wants-local-taxi-owners-interests-protected/ 30 Apr 2017 Digital meter to soon be mandatory for Goa taxis http://www.navhindtimes.in/digital-meter-to-soon-be-mandatory-for-goa-taxis/ 30 Apr 2017 Taxi owners threaten to hold strike http://www.navhindtimes.in/taxi-owners-threaten-to-hold-strike/ 30 Apr 2017 Go Goans. Time to get your app-based networked taxi is now http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=27766&boxid=33640532&uid=&dat=4/30/2017 30 Apr 2017 Taxis in Goa will have to install dgital meters once the Amendment Bill Passes - Sudin Dhavlikar, Transport Minister https://chronicler.in/taxis-goa-will-install-digital-meters-amendment-bill-passes/Goa/ 02 May 2017 What’s App? Goans for networked taxis by Goans, for Goans, of Goans https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/What%E2%80%99s-App-Goans-for-networked-taxis-by-Goans-for-Goans-of-Goans/114667.html?platform=hootsuite 02 May 2017 "HAFTA" MAIN REASON FOR HIGH TAXI RATES: TAXI OPERATORS - Taxiwallas http://ingoanews.com/hafta-main-reason-high-taxi-rates-taxi-operators 03 May 2017 CALANGUTE TAXI OWNER’S ASSOCIATION DO NOT WANT ENTRY OF OLA AND UBER IN GOA – MICHEAL LOBO ASSURED FULL SUPPORT AND SUGGESTED TO MAKE OWN APP https://www.goaprism.com/calangute-taxi-owners-association-entry-ola/ Poll on Twitter https://twitter.com/oheraldogoa/status/858931489270050816?s=04