NT Reporter
Panaji
Citing a recent incident of assault and carjacking of a taxi driver in North Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the government is actively exploring technology-driven reforms to enhance safety, accountability and traceability in the state’s taxi sector, which has long been criticised for a lack of regulation and digital infrastructure.
Addressing a gathering at an event, Sawant said there was a need to implement a digital system comprising app-based taxi bookings to improve passenger verification system and ensure driver safety.
“In a recent incident, somebody booked a taxi, attacked the driver and fled with the vehicle. If a proper digital system was in place, police would have found it easier to identify the culprits,” said the Chief Minister referring to Thursday’s violent episode wherein the taxi driver sustained grievous injuries.
The Chief Minister advocating app-based taxi bookings has significance at a time when the taxi operators and drivers in the state have been raising objections to taxi aggregator guidelines proposed by the government.
It may be noted that the government had released draft guidelines for transport aggregators in May, aiming to regulate app-based taxi services. The guidelines, which were open for public feedback, had sought to balance passenger convenience with the interests of local taxi drivers and operators. The proposed rules also addressed issues like fare regulation, driver welfare and operational requirements for aggregators.
However, taxi operators and drivers across both districts, North and South Goa, strongly opposed the guidelines, expressing concerns that the government’s push for app-based taxi services would directly threaten their livelihoods and way of life.
The taxi unions argued that the introduction of multiple apps would lead to further tensions surrounding the existing GoaMiles app, which was launched by the state government some years ago.
The transport department received 3,600 applications expressing suggestions and objections to the draft aggregator guidelines.
