PANAJI
The State government on Wednesday informed the House that the ban imposed on grant of new rent-a-cab licences or permits is not “permanent” and will be reviewed periodically.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said that in the light of a series of grave road accidents involving rent-a-car and rent-a-bike vehicles, primarily arising from negligent and rash driving by users, including instances of driving under the influence of alcohol, the State Transport Authority (STA), during a meeting in February, 2025 unanimously resolved to suspend the issuance of fresh rent-a-cab licences in the larger public interest.
Before that, the issuance of new rent-a-cab licences was kept in abeyance with effect from February 2024.
“However, it is clarified that the decision does not amount to a permanent prohibition. The government shall periodically review the prevailing situation in light of the proposed Goa Road Safety Policy 2025 and other relevant developments,” the Minister said responding to a question raised by Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
The Minister explained that Goa, being a premier tourism destination, witnesses a sustained inflow of domestic and international tourists throughout the year and a considerable proportion of visitors opt for self-driven rental vehicles for local commuting.
“However, it has been observed that many such users operate these vehicles without adequate familiarity with local traffic norms or road conditions. This has contributed to a rising trend in road traffic accidents, some of which have resulted in grievous injuries and fatalities, endangering both tourists and local residents,” he said.
Godinho informed the House that the department has already issued 10 rent-a-cab licences, under which 6,762 permits have been granted. “The exponential increase in the number of rental vehicles has placed considerable strain on existing urban infrastructure, aggravating parking shortages and contributing to traffic bottlenecks, especially in high-density tourist zones and areas with narrow roadways,” he said.
“In view of the above, the STA found it prudent to adopt a cautious and regulatory approach by temporarily halting the grant of new licences to prevent further deterioration of road safety and mobility conditions,” the Minister said.
