It's two months since Goa Government launched the prestigious Taxi app GOAMILES which has turned out to be a total failure - everyone is getting message "Sorry, No Vehicle to dispatch", people have uninstalled the taxi app and have already forgotten about it.
In the last update we provided details that the taxi mafia Godfather MLA will meet CM with support of 30 MLAs in the "interest of Goan people". It is shameful that BJP MLA Michael Lobo is supporting the taxi mafia against the initiatives of his own Government. Goamiles fares are lucrative for taxi drivers - more than 2 times the other states, even then the MLA is supporting the looters. There may be more to the taxi business with drugs and prostitution which is at risk since they may lose their grip on allocating their own chosen drivers to 3/5 star hotels.
The app is currently a total failure, it is strange that the Goa Government does not want to allow local Goans to register with their own vehicles. While other states have invited Ola/Uber with partnership to boost employment to "good" people and boost tourism. The other states are competing and Goa is going downhill due to the stupidity of the politicians. All the 40 MLAs including the opposition are suspected of having their own taxi fleet secretly joining hands with the mafia operation - a gimmick to fool the people.
Taxi service is crucial for the future of Goa - mobility will improve livability index and also bring boom to tourism industry which indirectly supports half the population of Goa. Although taxi app may not be cost to the Government, there is tremendous loss to reputation of the Goa Government in supporting projects from which the state will never recover. Now to add to the foolishness GTDC states "it has moved a proposal to Tourism minister asking that they be allowed to procure electric vehicles ….". Taxi app will remain as just another of the numerous failures of GTDC. The simple solution to encourage reputed aggregators to operate under defined guidelines like other states has been turned into a mess. As expected the Taxi mafia is suspected of hacking bid to threaten Goamiles, if this was operated from Goa, there would have been personal risk to the developers from the Taxi Mafia goons.
There is also effort to install expensive, outdated and redundant taxi meters to be purchased with 90% subsidy from tax payers with the potential kickbacks. Once installed, the Taxi meters will be conveniently switched off as not working. We have anticipated all the games played so far and the meters will be a total waste as the taxi mafia will never agree on fares. Only the open competition can bring everyone in line with the Government only providing regulation.
With the tourist season already started, it is an excellent opportunity to provide employment as well as improve quality of service as it is performance based, and reduce strength of the taxi mafia which has been taming and threatening the Goa Government all the time. Or just invite Ola/Uber on the basis of free competition and as per the fundamental rights of the people.
There is no Government in Goa and if you open grievance with Prime Minister's Office the time spent will be well invested into the future of Goa: http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/interact-with-honble-pm/
MEDIA ARTICLES:
5 Oct 2018 GTDC terminates and blacklists taxi driver
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/GTDC-terminates-and-blacklists-taxi-driver-/137070.html
4 Oct 2018 Hacking bids threaten Goamiles
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Hacking-bids-threaten-Goamiles/137036.html
24 Sep 2018 Taxi owners upset for not inducting Michael Lobo, threatens agitation
http://goanewshub.com/news/taxi-owners-upset-for-not-inducting-michael-lobo-threatens-agitation/
24 Sep 2018 North Goa Tourist operators upset over Michael Lobo not being given Cabinet seat
https://youtu.be/PvinzE6mKwo
20 Sep 2018 Herald: HC pulls up Transport Dept for delay in installing digital meters
https://www.heraldgoa.in/m/details.php?n_id=136371
17 Sep 2018 Taxi operators want speed governor rule scrapped
http://www.navhindtimes.in/taxi-operators-want-speed-governor-rule-scrapped/
17 Aug 2018 Jayesh Salgaonkar meets Taxi Owners' to resolve their issues
https://youtu.be/kIELfI-l26E
16 Sep 2018 Government to HC: May re-tender supply of digital taxi meters
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/government-to-hc-may-re-tender-supply-of-digital-taxi-meters/articleshow/65825859.cms?from=mdr
8 Sep 2018 GTDC to look at electric cars to solve low taxi enrolment on Goa Miles
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gtdc-to-look-at-electric-cars-to-solve-low-taxi-enrolment-on-goa-miles/articleshow/65726419.cms
26 Aug 2018 GOAMILES App Review: Is Goa's UBER service worth it? || Visiting Mall De Goa
https://youtu.be/7gQGkmADNOY
19 Aug 2018 Govt may offer subsidy to start new cab and join GoaMiles
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/govt-may-offer-subsidy-to-start-new-cab-and-join-goamiles/articleshow/65462357.cms
18 Aug 2018 IT Hub Set Up In State but Taxi App Developed In Pune
https://www.goaprism.com/it-hub-set-up-in-state-but-taxi-app-developed-in-pune/
18 Aug 2018 Goa’s trade body praises newly launched Taxi Service ‘GoaMiles’
http://thegoaspotlight.com/goas-trade-body-praises-newly-launched-taxi-service-goamiles/