In Jun 2017, Ola representative said that their vehicles were damaged during 2014 launch and given the Law and Order situation they didn't want to invest in Goa, and from what we see today, they were right. They had better opportunities with other states like Mizoram, MP, UP inviting them to promote taxis as well as tourism in the state with partnership. See previous posts. Goa was the ideal place for them, not only to promote taxis but also tourism, both are revenue/employment generating. Ola's business model requires taxis to be contracted to taxi drivers, their transactions are recorded online and so they have to pay taxes to the Government. The On the other hand, Goa taxis in Goa pay no taxes and in-spite of that have always been given favorable treatment - last year Goa Government waived off vehicle/road tax. Due to mobility cost Goa is losing out as a favorable destination for events, corporate trainings, functions.

In July 2018, the Additional Director General from Competition Commission of India was in Goa and has interviewed few people. They had sent summons to taxi union leaders but they defied the summons due to vested interests. The Government has since then seems to have suppressed the report under pressure from Goa State Government and Mr Jha was transferred. Many of these politicians are secretly supporting the taxi owners behind closed doors and some are also instigating them. If we want progress in Goa we have to stop electing any politician who is secretly affiliated to taxi goons.

SCRAP GOAMILES: GoaMiles was the best option at the time the decision was taken. At that time Pitasys software developed and implemented software called "ALLMILES" for fleet of corporate vehicles and could easily extended it for taxi so GoaMiles was born. Parrikar said it was the first taxi app venture and was on the right track to break the monopoly of taxi union, it is not born in sin as quoted by Mauvin Godinho but was the best alternative at that time. Tourism minister confirms that taxi union was already given a chance to install taxi meters and they refused, otherwise GoaMiles would not have been started.

The taxi association initially thought that GoaMiles software will never work. There was no track record for Goan software and even if it was developed in Goa the taxi goons would have threatened developers. Good that it was at a safe distance in Pune. The fact that the taxi union is agitating means the software is working perfectly, it doesn't matter if there are bugs and small inconveniences. To demand the quality of Ola/Uber we Goans have to provide civilized infrastructure with law and order. If we support crooked minded politicians who are after vote bank and instigating taxi drivers, this is what we get.

The taxi union leader Yogesh Govekar clearly states in the video that they will NEVER ALLOW ANY taxi app, there was another 100% Goan taxi app available later on but the taxi union  refused. All taxi drivers want this app to work but the few goondas in the union is not allowing it. The issue is not of non-Goan app, but is an issue of few taxi goon union leaders threatening the rest of the taxi drivers. So do not have any sympathy for any of the taxi owners as all of them are trying to loot due to the mentality of these leaders. It's time to boycott them.

INSTALL TAXI METERS: The taxi union today demands that they want Goa Miles scrapped and then they will come to the table and say that "there are no meters used anywhere in India, why do you want meters in Goa ?". Even if they agree to install meters, the dates will be extended like for speed governors. They will likely damage meters and say the meters are not working and the possibilities of surprises are endless as meters are in their hands and Government and law enforcement is only a silent spectator.

Before the Government spends the tax payer's 43 crores to install meters, first agree on the rate per km. In history of Goa the taxi union has never agreed on a rate per km. Official Gazette of Goa govt has always been published in disagreement according to taxi representative when Goa Taxi Revolution discussed with them. The only fixed rate we see is the fare table at the Goa airport which they reluctantly agreed to. Taxi union has been requesting to fix similar fare table at other taxi stands, which never materialized. Never any rate per km. They want to quote rate based on situation……

The taxi drivers want people to come to them and they quote rate based on your situation - like look at your face, how you speak, what language and urgency. Even if you go to taxi stand you will find that they gang up together and decide on a taxi rate for you. For this reason, most people privately hire taxis, although these rates are slightly less, at least there is peace of mind that you will not be taken for a ride. Consumers have no say against this loot. Competition is the only way to make them understand. Meters are not convenient for today's tourist and doesn't go with today's lifestyle….. people want to plan their day on the taxi app, select destination and get a rate and have taxi come to them. The first time tourists are surprised when they see the unbelievable attitude of taxi mafia.

STANDARDIZATION OF RATES: The GoaMiles rates are fixed at double the rates in other states, and if the rates were lower the taxi agitation would have come up much earlier. As mentioned getting these taxi union goons to agree on rate should be done first, otherwise meters will be installed and then discussion on rates will go on for many years.

INFLATION OF DISTANCES: The distances from airport to cities have been increased deliberately in 2016 as compared to those on the fare chart in 2011 as indicated in a study by our Mousinho Reis. This wouldn't have been possible without approval from the corrupt transport department. Mousinho has also pointed out that as per rule, the tourist taxis should not use parking spaces in the city causing inconvenience to the public. They are supposed to be associated with hotels, tour operators and travel agents and should carry a voucher that they are on business trip. In the past we have tried to bring this to the attention of Transport dept but they just refuse to acknowledge. The Kadamba Buses from the airport which were stopped on account of Covid have been cancelled forever with pressure form taxi mafia.

QUESTION OF LIVELIHOOD: Due to competition everyone is having hard time. What about the livelihood of hotel owners/staff who are losing business because taxi is not affordable and besides that Goa has not been able to provide public transport, not even proper buses from Airport. Most tourists provide negative feedback about Goa. When people come to Goa they plan alternate transport as much as possible. Competitive Taxi is the only alternative to make Goa's tourism competitive as other states are also wooing the tourists. Every other businesses like AirBnB, Flipkart, Alibaba, Amazon, Goibibo, Zomato have evolved and people have adjusted to technology, with higher volumes, so why not taxi.

Finally, as Goa builds north/south highways, the distance from airport will further reduce. Also it will take much shorter time for anyone to pick up and drop as compared to today, so the taxi business has to stay competitive to increase volume. After the highways are built, Goa will face increasing competition from the neighboring states. One can take a flight to Sindudurg and take a taxi and reach places in Goa within 1 hour. Taxi as a profession has no long term future for livelihood.

There are several videos circulating where taxi drivers are stopping Goa Miles vehicles with tourists on way to airport and assaulting them leading to argument with tourists. Please see attached video. Due to some politicians secretly supporting and instigating these taxi goons for votes the taxi goons have become stronger and bolder. Goa requires leadership to ensure its core tourism business is improved, you cannot support taxi and kill the tourism business as well as change people' s lifestyle. CM Dr. Pramod Sawant said the union leaders own 50/50 taxis. What action has he taken to weaken the goons who own these taxis and are taming the Government ? This BJP leadership certainly requires assistance from the Central Government as they have proved they cannot handle the situation.

Who is representing the people of Goa ? People must make sure these taxi affiliated politicians never get elected. The coastal belt is big money from illegal drugs and prostitution.... the well known politicians who are deep into it, saying they know the drug kingpin... taxis in coastal belt are part of the cartel for the illegal business.....drugs and prostitution.

copy to CM - cm.goa@nic.in
Narendra Modi
Amit Shah
email shot to 12,500 signatories of Taxi Petition

Oherald - 11 April 2021 - ‘Govts to blame for errant taxi-walas’

Oherald - 17 April 2021 - Sorry the taxi lobby and their political patrons: You don’t get what Goa needs

NavhindTimes - 17 April 2021 - Taxi operators didn’t pay heed to my advice on digital meters: Ajgaonkar