Will incentives drive Goa taxi operators to app?

Five days before the public feedback on the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 could close on June 30, 2025, the Government of Goa announced a taxi app for drivers in the State under the tag, 'Goa Taxi, Aamchi Taxi'.

The new app offers sops to the first 500 taxi drivers, which includes 25 litres of free fuel — petrol, diesel or CNG — to drivers who complete 50 rides and remain active from eight in the morning till night for 30 days.

For Goan taxi drivers, it's time to reset trust and direction

Good going. The draft policy also had goodies for the first few drivers, though perhaps not similar to those offered by this new goodie app hat thrown in days before the public feedback could close on June 30.

At the time when taxi meters had been introduced, there were goodies in the form of subsidies and despite all taxisinstalling the meters, most seem to operate with the meters not turned on. Many claimed guests preferred pre-determined prices.

At the time when taxi meters had been introduced, there were goodies in the form of subsidies and despite all taxis installing the meters, most seem to operate with the meters not turned on.

The question that comes to mind is: If apps or taxi meters are good for the drivers and customers, why are sops thrown in? What is the rationale in luring in taxi drivers if the app or meter is for their good?

There is a simple logic in life — nothing good is free. If the apps are good, like the meters that were installed were supposed to be, why are there incentives for the first 500? 

After much noise, the taxi meters were installed and the rides were expected to be smooth thereafter. Actually, before the drivers and the public could settle for metered rides, the concept of appshad crept in.

Why Goa's traditional taxi operators must fall in line

Tourists in any part of the world doubt the rates being charged by taxi drivers in any country. Wherever one goes, the doubt of being taken for a longer ride instead of the shortest ride always hangs in the mind of any tourist in any country.

In short, for most tourists in any part of the world, taxi drivers are considered as opportunists.

If one goes to Bombay (Mumbai), forget any far off place, the first doubt that comes to mind is whether the route opted for is long or short and, many times, therein starts the discussion between the cab driver and the guest.

Therefore, painting local taxi drivers as rip offs can be way off the line, though it would not be wrong to term many drivers as rude or arrogant, not only whilst dealing with clients, but also when driving.

Therefore, painting local taxi drivers as rip offs can be way off the line, though it would not be wrong to term many drivers as rude or arrogant, not only whilst dealing with clients, but also when driving.

The government wants all to believe that the new app will bring confidence in the minds of touriststhat they are not being ripped off, that they will be paying the price approved by the government.

If that is so, how come the industry could not go forward with the meters that were installed under strict government supervision? Is it that the taxi drivers got around the meters? If so, will it not be possible to get around the app?

A perspective of the taxi issue from a driver’s seat

In the face of it all, the new app and the decision that will be taken at the end of 30 days — it ended yesterday — appears to be long drawn and may continue till the next election that is due in 2027 and will continue till the next one in 2032, and perhaps go on.

Ultimately, the tourist will end up flummoxed, but will not stop coming because most visitors come to Goa because of their love for the people, a well-established fact that no one can hide.

There is a saying, 'Sometimes all you need is a new perspective'. For the industry to grow, this is what is needed. Let’s stop squabbling about something the stakeholders are not interested in and move forward.