Tourist hubs top list as private vehicles diverted for commercial use
PANAJI
As many as 700 cases of private vehicles being illegally operated as rent-a-cabs were booked across Goa over the last two calendar years, with more than half of the cases registered in 2024.
A detailed statement tabled by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho in the just-concluded Legislative Assembly revealed that the highest number of violations was detected in major tourist hubs, including Panaji, Mapusa, Calangute, Porvorim, Anjuna and Pernem, where vehicles registered for private use were found to have been diverted for commercial rental operations.
The annexure, running into several hundred entries, showed several instances of repeated detentions, suspension of registration certificates, and issuance of show-cause notices. However, over 150 cases were listed as “in process” or “case not received”, while several others remained pending despite enforcement action.
The information, tabled in response to an unstarred question tabled by MLA Viresh Borkar, also noted that although the government notified lifetime tax for rent-a-cab vehicles with effect from March 1, 2024 – to introduce a uniform taxation structure –the number of such vehicles continues to pay tax at rates applicable to private vehicles.
Lifetime road tax collected from rent-a-car vehicles over the last three financial years stood at Rs 82.36 lakh in 2023–24, Rs 7.99 crore in 2024–25, and Rs 4.79 crore in 2025–26.
Despite the scale of violations, the government has not assessed the revenue impact arising from the current tax structure.
