Allays fears of local taxi operators and drivers
Panaji: Following a meeting with taxi operators at the Mantralaya, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the draft guidelines for cab aggregators will not open the doors for companies like Ola and Uber.
The draft notification issued by the government is to finalise guidelines for taxi aggregators in the state and not to bring in national cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, Sawant told a delegation of taxi operators.
The cab operators, who met Sawant along with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, reiterated their opposition to the introduction of app-based taxi services in the state. Sawant said the government will arrive at an appropriate decision on the issue by taking all stakeholders into confidence.
Admitting to the need for discipline in the tourist taxi business in the state, Lobo said cab aggregators from outside the state will not prove to be affordable for Goans.
Stating that there was some confusion in the minds of taxi operators from Mandrem, Arolkar said, “The Chief Minister has cleared their doubts.” He said Sawant has assured them that the fare will be uniform for cab aggregators and the local taxi operators.
State’s taxi operators are opposing the draft notification issued by the directorate of transport, which has sought suggestions and objections from the general public to the transport aggregator guidelines issued by the government on May 20. The last date to provide suggestions and raise objections is June 20.
The guidelines propose a regulatory framework to allow app-based ride-hailing services to operate in the state. They aim to ensure driver welfare, fair pricing and the use of Goa-registered vehicles and licensed drivers. The proposed guidelines also address concerns about payments to drivers, requiring aggregators to pay within 72 hours and impose penalties for delays.
According to the guidelines, only taxis registered in Goa with valid permits and drivers with valid public service vehicle (PSV) badges can be on board. The drivers must receive the government-prescribed fare for each journey. Aggregators will face a 25% penalty for delayed payments.
The guidelines also mandate that the aggregators provide health insurance coverage for drivers, with an increment each year. Drivers are allowed to work with multiple aggregators and aggregators can operate without a fare meter, as per the guidelines.
