It doesn't matter if GOAMILES app works or not, it looks like Taxi lobby has approached Calangute MLA and he has stated that he will meet CM with support of 30 MLA's "in the interest of Goan people". With these assurances it is quite natural that taxi association does not join the GOAMILES app based taxi and every single day it is delayed is an opportunity for them to loot. It is a shame that Goa Government cannot take a firm stand. This is the same situation in Jan 2018 after their taxi strike was successful, Government failed to maintain a firm stand and taxi lobby ended the strike on their terms, even today they haven't installed the speed governors.
The taxi lobby has always maintained that APP based taxi will not work in Goa. It appears pricing has been deliberately fixed high to prove the point. Even at these prices taxi drivers do not want to join the app. Taxi union instigated some groups to leave the app, and then few joined back. The taxi lobby will play games after games and the Government will be dragged into perpetual battle.
To stop the Taxi association from dictating terms to the Govt, the only solution is to allow new enrollments so the app is able to meet the demand and gradually reduce dependency of erring taxi drivers. This will also provide excellent employment opportunities for Goans as well as improve the quality of taxi service. The software company Pitasys has claimed that number of taxi operators will be increased sooner but if people are constantly getting message "No vehicle to dispatch" it means that enrollments are not taking place and it is just an eyewash to fool people. In this case, please open grievance with Prime Minister at http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/interact-with-honble-pm/
There are questions raised by CRT (Center for Responsible Tourism) about selection of Pune based company from among other the 19. Goa Govt is promoting IT startups but has provided the contract to Pitasys. They claim to have experience in handling 60,000 people, but their experience is in Corporate Mobility for employee transportation. Employee may have much lesser dependency on software and mostly need routine transportation, there is less interaction with customer support and complaints. The fact that Pitasys does not have experience in handling public taxi should have been considered at the time of awarding contract.
The software was to be launched end May delayed by 3 months. There seems to be lack of experience in the min pricing to increase demand and utilization which they should have advised GTDC. It seems to be fixed y dictated by those who want taxi app business to fail. For digital apps, it is necessary to take advantage lower min pricing with high number of transactions to take advantage of automated systems. The rates are already more than double of rest of India. Lower fares are the key to better earning of taxis and viability of business. Pitasys should have understood the business need of taxi operators based on population.
Those who don't use taxis in Goa or have never taken a taxi from Ola/Uber outside the state won't mind the service. Most people who have traveled outside Goa are aware of Ola Uber service, will have proper expectations like all the Tourists. This will give a bad name to Goa as they get frustrated with the service, until we have open competition from Ola Uber.
GTDC is also paying training of drivers from tax payer's money. Companies like Ola Uber provide their own training and the efforts are covered from the commission charged.
Taxi app will be miserable ongoing battle for GTDC and embarrassment for Goa Government through social media until it opens up to fair competition from other players. For GTDC this will be one of their usual failures like Amphibian Vehicle, HopOnHopOff bus, etc.
Since Goamiles fares are too expensive, and the airport bus is always fully packed as there are only 6 bus trips, people are looking forward to Airport bus promised by Manohar Parrikar every 15/20 minutes to Calangute, Candolim, Mapusa, Panaii,, Madgaon. Everyday delay in having a proper taxi app is a loss to the Goan public and the quality of life and Panaji has been ranked 90 from among the 111 cities in terms of livability survey.
14 Aug 2018 App or no app – that is the question
https://www.goa365.tv/Tourism/E/app-or-no-app-–-that-is-the-question/04267.html
15 Aug 2018 Disgruntled Mormugao taximen seek re-entry into GoaMiles app
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=44836
14 Aug 2018 Goa Miles get gets over 2000 app inquiries a day, but teething troubles restrict responses
http://thegoaspotlight.com/goa-miles-get-gets-over-2000-app-inquiries-a-day-but-teething-troubles-restrict-responses/
13 Aug 2018 GTDC plans to enrol more cabbies on its mobile app
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gtdc-plans-to-enrol-more-cabbies-on-its-mobile-app/articleshow/65379915.cms
12 Aug 2018 AAP: Govt destroying local taxi biz
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/aap-govt-destroying-local-taxi-biz/articleshow/65370531.cms?from=mdr
12 Aug 2018 AAP warns of further setbacks to taxi operators in Goa
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/AAP-warns-of-further-setbacks-to-taxi-operators-in-Goa/134641.html
12 Aug 2018 CRT: Reveal how taxi app co was chosen
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/crt-reveal-how-taxi-app-co-was-chosen/articleshow/65370535.cms
12 Aug 2018 Setback to GTDC, 100 taxi men steer away from GoaMiles app at airport
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=44804
11 Aug 2018 ‘SCRAP TAXI APP’: SIOLIM TAXI OPERATORS
https://youtu.be/PkScSC9NHmY
11 Aug 2018 GTDC tries to allay doubts about taxi app
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gtdc-tries-to-allay-doubts-about-taxi-app/articleshow/65360242.cms
11 Aug 2018 Tourism body terms CRT’s allegations against GoaMiles as ‘baseless'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/tourism-body-terms-crts-allegations-against-goamiles-as-baseless/articleshow/65360246.cms
10 Aug 2018 Commuters annoyed by GoaMiles glitches
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/commuters-annoyed-by-goamiles-glitches/articleshow/65345640.cms
10 Aug 2018 ‘Taxi app anti-people, anti-devpt, operated by Pune-based firm.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/taxi-app-anti-people-anti-devpt-operated-by-pune-based-firm/articleshow/65345635.cms
11 Aug 2018 Rent-a-Cab counter set to take wings at airport
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/M/index.html#!/detail.html?id=44751&secid=1
11 Aug 2018 GTDC, MLAs meet taximen to resolve issues
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/M/index.html#!/detail.html?id=44766&secid=1
10 Aug 2018 GoaMiles: Joy & confusion in driver;s first taxi trip
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/M/index.html#!/detail.html?id=44745&secid=1
10 Aug 2018 Church body joins chorus against GTDC's Goamiles app
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=44743
Facebook Post of Goamiles evaluation - Uninstalled the app
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156532423151894&set=a.10151506133886894.1073741825.555881893