The State government’s decision to replace the proposed Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 with a new State Taxi Policy marks a notable change in stance on regulating the taxi ecosystem. Interestingly, for the first time, taxi stakeholders met face-to-face with legislators, including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, and other MLAs, marking a significant step towards aggregator reform.
A major positive outcome of the meeting was that the government acceded to the taxi lobby’s demand to scrap the Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, with the chief minister and the transport minister backing down from their firm stance. If we may recall, Godinho has been firm on moving ahead with the guidelines after consulting all taxi sections, while Sawant had recently spoken tough, saying, “We are ready to take any bold decision in the interest of the State. We are ready for criticism and backlash…we are used to it…but in the larger interest of the State and for future tourism, some decisions have to be made.”
This change in approach may be motivated by the acknowledgment that imposing app-based aggregators in Goa without widespread agreement could lead to negative repercussions, including legal challenges, protests, or standoffs that could adversely impact tourism. The government’s acknowledgement of concerns of taxi drivers and its commitment to consider their input suggest a strategic fallback, aiming to develop a policy that is both progressive and acceptable.
Another positive that emerged from the meeting is that a draft State Taxi Policy holds promise of factoring in the objections raised to the aggregator guidelines. The question is whether the policy will genuinely streamline fares and guarantee transparency, or simply satisfy the taxi lobby in the short term?
At the top, among the list of concerns, was the question of transparency, safety, and fair pricing. There were also worries over players like Ola and Uber eating into the business. And there were other issues like a lack of adequate connectivity, etc. The Transport Department had received 3,519 objections and 455 supportive suggestions, mainly from tourist taxi operators, after publishing the draft on May 21.
On the table, none of the key issues were resolved. There should have been some consensus on the twin issues of fares and outstation players. The taxi unions have historically opposed the entry of national players, as they contend that such platforms could lead to fare undercutting, jeopardising the financial stability of traditional taxi drivers. The million dollar question is, how is the policy going to be different?
There is uncertainty about whether this policy will truly tackle the underlying problems. The government’s focus on ‘collaborative solutions’ and the establishment of a committee to handle grievances points to an intention to consider the interests of traditional taxis. However, a major challenge lies in balancing these concerns with the need to modernize and digitize the transport sector.
The meeting concluded with the picture remaining hazy: Can Goa maintain distinct regulations that support traditional taxis while also incorporating digital platforms? The government’s readiness to potentially align pricing strategies with the demands of the taxi lobby may undermine the fundamental ideals of fair competition and transparency. The dedication to digitization and the aspiration to create a ‘smart’ Goa are commendable, but the same old challenges remain on the taxi front. If the obstacles are not addressed, the policy could end up being merely a theoretical concept rather than a transformative change.
