Picture a situation where a tourist is escorted out of the hotel he is staying in under tight police cover. Wednesday’s attack on GoaMiles taxi drivers goes a long way to show that the rivalries between the warring factions are far from over. It also goes to show that the administration has failed to address this issue and needs to seriously introspect. The tourism season is peaking steadily and such instances, besides creating an insecure environment to tourists, will cause a huge embarrassment at a time when there is a struggle to get tourists on board. It is for the government to cut out monopolies and set up a multi-player eco-system in the larger interest of Goa’s tourism.
GoaMiles drivers were attacked in two separate incidents in Calangute and Chapora on Wednesday. The app-based taxi driver was allegedly restrained, abused and assaulted while on the job. The police may have acted swiftly arresting the culprits and moving the Mapusa RTO for suspension of their taxi permits. But these actions have time and again failed to deter the muscle-flexing private taxi owners. And certainly, these trouble-shooting exercises can’t eliminate the risks to all those associated with the app-based service and the travellers.
The Chapora incident amplifies the fact that even police are helpless at times. Three police jeeps swung into action to provide security to the GoaMiles driver but failed to act against local taxi operators blocking the road. Ironically, after two hours of high drama, GoaMiles had to beat a retreat without taking the tourist. The private taxis just managed to score an insignificant victory here.
The government is paying the price of giving leeway to a politically-backed taxi lobby. We understand the soft corner that is being shown to them by the several MLAs who are banking on them for their votes, but Goa needs an app-based taxi service, not necessarily GoaMiles. The tourist needs affordable convenience and it’s a pity that Goa is not in a position to provide it all these years. This brings us to another question: why would tourists risk themselves with an unorganised taxi sector in Goa?
The re-conciliatory path that the government is taking is only going to hit tourism at a time when we need to pull up our socks. There is massive competition for Goa as a tourism destination and the government should leave no stone unturned on this count. The very fact that the administration is dragging its feet on even installation of digital metres speaks volumes of the government’s lethargy in putting systems in place.
The Transport Department’s decision to re-open the process of issuing tourist taxi permits may be aimed to propel a sagging auto sector, but it must ensure that there are checks and balances in place. The taxi sector, which is conveniently running under the guise of Goemkarponn has to be regulated otherwise the government will face an uphill road in ensuring law and order. Resorting to trouble-shooting are only temporary measures that have failed and it’s time to chart a new road.
