Goa CM Promises Resolution to Taxi Aggregator Issue by Session End

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assures resolution of the conflict involving cab aggregators and local taxi operators before the monsoon session concludes. He plans to hold a meeting with concerned parties including MLAs, taxi operators, and aggregators. State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho supports modernizing taxi services.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the state assembly that the issue involving cab aggregators allegedly stealing business from local taxi operators would be resolved before the end of the current monsoon session.

The monsoon session, which started on July 15, is set to conclude on August 7.

'I assure the House that the issue related to taxis (cab aggregators and tourist taxis) will be resolved before the end of this session. I am calling for a meeting of all concerned MLAs, taxi operators, and cab aggregators to find a solution,' Sawant said on Wednesday night.

State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho will also attend the meeting, Sawant added. The chief minister made this statement during the passage of demands for grants for the transport department. The opposition raised concerns that the cab aggregator 'Goa Miles' was encroaching on traditional taxi operators' business.

Earlier in the House, Godinho mentioned that app-based taxi services are promoted for the benefit of Goa and its residents. 'Goa Miles operates at 20 percent lower than the notified rates for taxi operators. You also have Goa's app, which will undergo an audit if it lowers the rate,' he stated.

Godinho told the House that MLAs need to decide whether to adopt modern app-based technology or continue with traditional tourist taxi operations. 'Goa's biggest issue is public transport, especially the lack of buses in rural areas,' he added.

The minister emphasized that the state government is not forcing anyone to join Goa Miles or the Goa Taxi app. 'Taxi operators are free to design their own app if they don't want to join existing ones, and the state will support them,' Godinho concluded.