Taxi owners have rejected state Govt's plan to come up with a local Taxi app based system and Government is now telling them "either accept OLA & UBER or be like them". Earlier Calangute MLA suggested that Taxi Owners assoc to make their own app. Prior to that GTDC was to develop its own app which was actually promised a few years ago but nothing was done. Ref News articles at end. It is absolutely clear that neither taxi association nor the government has the capabilities or interest in developing taxi app. Every day delay is a loss to people in taxi expenses/tourism income and gain to the gangs. So why the delay ? Generally people think that they will just download a local taxi app like Ola/Uber and everything will be fine. No, it's much more complex. As an engineer for VJTI having spent over 30 years in computer software technology and last 2 years exclusively on digital transformation software projects using latest technology, it's my responsibility to provide you enough knowledge of what is needed so you don't just hope it will be done. MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: - A separate organization is required to design, develop and implement the app - If this app is controlled by the same people from taxi union and vested interests, they can decide to shut it down with many more excuses than taxi meters - It requires crores of rupees of investment and it has been mentioned that government does not have budget - If organization cost with salaries is passed on to taxi fare, it will be much higher and again people won't use taxis at all - It takes several months to implement - Software development is only a fraction of the whole effort - As app has to provide official receipt, will the vested interests really support it ? Or will they find excuses to collect cash - If taxi union couldn't agree on simple fare rate with government for decades how will they understand and agree on the numerous parameters for taxi app - Entire team of skilled people has to work together as a team to make it a success and their salaries paid from taxi fare. - Segregation of duties requires that developer is diff from tester is diff from system admin, - Certain roles need min 2 persons for redundancy like system admin SOFTWARE REQUIRES: - servers with disaster recovery, system admins, identity authentication management, - developers, testing, bug fixing, seamless software updates, map updates - documentation, training, - accountants, bank accounts, deals with payment companies for secure payment, payment gateway, - registration process driver and partner, vehicle certification, RTO compliance, - insurance agreements, lawyers for agreements & handle law suits, - 24 x 7 operation with hot line, monitoring and customer service staff, - Driver selection algorithms to be created from scratch - Performance rating for driver and rider - Data plans for devices with coverage needed and agreements with ISPs Even as above efforts are made, court order may allow competition as this is fundamental right of every Goan as per constitution which has been denied at present. Also take into account the lost opportunity to spend less and earn income on taxi with every single day of the delayed decision. 02 May 2017 Don't want OLA UBER in Goa - Make your own app https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Fe8OHR5Kk 31 May 2017 EITHER ACCEPT OLA & UBER OR BE LIKE THEM https://www.goaprism.com/goa-taxi-operator-issue-accept-ola-like-government/ 27 May 2017 Taxi owners reject service on the lines of Ola, Uber http://www.navhindtimes.in/taxi-owners-reject-service-on-the-lines-of-ola-uber/ 03 May 2017 Calangute Taxi Owner's Association do not want entry of OLA UBER in Goa https://www.goaprism.com/calangute-taxi-owners-association-entry-ola/ 28 Apr 2017 Ola And Uber Will Not Be Allowed, GTDC To Develop Its Own App For Taxi Service https://chronicler.in/ola-uber-will-not-allowed-gtdc-develop-app-taxi-service/Goa/