The tussle between local tourist taxi operators and the Goa Miles taxi service at Colva is now threatening to snowball into a major controversy with the government refusing to budge.
The cabinet decision to provide security cover to the Goa Miles will send out a strong message that the government is strongly rooting for the service. But is it practical to provide security on every route? On the contrary it could turn out to be counter-productive. Tourists are not going to engage Goa Miles if they sense a threat perception. Security can be reason enough for travelers to engage the local taxi even if it comes at a higher price.
On the face of it Goa Miles appears to have the cabinet backing, but the political side tells a different story. The taxi lobby are known to have a strong backing of legislators. The open support of Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao at Colva is testimony to the fact that the legislator is not going to take things lying down. From Calangute MLA Michael Lobo to Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaocar, Siolim MLA Vinoda Paliencar and several others are all key players in the ruling coalition and have been supportive of the private taxi lobby.
The contention that Goemkarponn is being threatened and that Goans will be stripped out of their traditional taxi business is an ill-conceived notion. Goans have opted for Goa Miles out of their own free will. Everyone has a right to choose their own occupation in a free democracy and Goa Miles taxi operators cannot be targeted for making this choice. Suggestions of making badges mandatory or imposing the 15 year domicile clause are measures that the government can incorporate to make the service more Goan-oriented. Having said that, are the private taxi operators exclusively a Goan breed? Where is Goemkarponn here? If Goan operators have accepted migrants running taxi businesses without feeling the threat to Goemkarponn, what’s wrong with Goa Miles joining the service?
By fighting Goa Miles operators, the private tourist taxis are only fighting for their monopoly in the guise of Goemkarponn. And legislators are supporting the agitation only because of vote bank politics. If Goemkarponn is being compromised, it makes sense in looking at the flip side, the traveller who is often fleeced to the last rupee is also a Goan.
The chief minister’s plea to join the app-based service on trial basis for a month is only going to fall on deaf ears, given the background. The private taxi business remains unregulated and lobbies have muscled their way to dominate the business and run it on their own terms. There was stiff opposition to fare meters and speed governors and the government dragged its feet to oblige them. Private tourist taxis have been given a long rope, long enough to control it like their own fiefdom. It’s time for some order. All eyes will be on the chief minister on how his government navigates through this taxi mess which is heading towards a flashpoint.
