BID TO PACIFY THE
AGITATED FORCE
>> Cabral downplayed taxi operators' opposition to app-based taxi services and described it as a win-win platform for all stakeholders
>> He said he was open to meeting them and sorting out their difficulties in joining the service with discussions across the table
>> I am available for 24 hours. Anyone can contact me and I will be happy to interact and explain any difficulty, Cabral said
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In the past when Ola or Uber tried to come in they had protested and we (government) supported their argument that Goa does not need such companies. Now that the government itself has set up this app-based service, I don't understand why they (taxi drivers) should have any objections-----------------------------------------------
- Nilesh Cabral
PANAJI: Facing a boisterous reaction to the launch of Goa Tourism Development Corporation's (GTDC) mobile app-based taxi services Goa Miles, its chairman Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday said efforts are being made to bring on to the platform services of Goa's auto-rickshaw drivers and two-wheeler pilots in due course as well.
Meanwhile, he downplayed the Goan taxi owners and drivers' opposition to the app-based taxi services and described it as a win-win platform for all the three stakeholders -- taxi drivers, tourists and locals.
Cabral said he was open to meeting them and sorting out their difficulties in joining the service with discussions across the table while pointing out that the taxi drivers may have some genuine misgivings.
The Curchorem MLA who heads GTDC said at a press conference here: "I am available for 24 hours. Anyone can contact me about the Goa Miles app and I will be happy to interact and explain any difficulty."
Cabral said he was at a loss to comprehend the outright rejection of the app by local taxi drivers.
"In the past when Ola or Uber tried to come in they had protested and we (government) supported their argument that Goa does not need such companies. Now that the government itself has set up this app-based service, I don't understand why they (taxi drivers) should have any objections," Cabral said.
He also said that the app has only been launched two days ago and there are bound to be some teething problems in its functionality initially.
"We are enrolling taxi drivers by checking their antecedents and documents. It will take some time for the service to stabilize," Cabral said with reference to calls received by him and complaints generally that the app was not working.
Massive protests were witnessed from taximen operating at the Dabolim airport on the day the Goa Miles app was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday from the State Secretariat.
Cabral, meanwhile, was optimistic of the success of Goa Miles which he said will afford the convenience of booking taxis from anywhere in Goa at reasonable rates and taxi drivers will get 100 per-cent of the fare charged. The Rs 20 per trip that the app will charge will be taken from the customer, Cabral added.
Frotamiles Pvt Ltd, Cabral said in response to the question is a recently formed company but the experience in the field comes from its parent company PITASYS Software Pvt Ltd who were the successful bidders in the tendering process of the GTDC's app based taxi service.
Frotamiles Pvt Ltd is the local special purpose vehicle (SPV) which was a requirement under the tender conditions, he said, adding that it is a subsidiary of PITASYS Software Pvt Ltd, which is in the transport automation business for several years.
