ABOUT THE APP
>> Will have a 24x7 command center with a team of 30 Goan youth behind it, allowing customers to book taxis round the clock
>> It can be be downloaded from PlayStore and customers can use it to book a cab in 2 minutes flat
PAYMENT MODE
>> Via cash, or cashless options like a debit card, credit card, or payment apps
>> The app is set to function in a similar way as that of Ola
GROWING FLEET
>> Currently, 330 taxis have registered with the app, while other taxis will be taken on board in a phased-wise manner
>> While a lot of taxi drivers had approached GTDC, they were taking it easy as it was a new service
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Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar launching the service at the Secretariat on Monday.
PANAJI: The much-hyped app-based taxi service of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation "Goa Miles" was launched on Monday by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Secretariat.
Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar and GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral were present at the launch where Parrikar said the potential for business and consequently income for the taxi owners will multiply two to three times within a short period of time.
He also said that the app would stop customers from being cheated, while also benefiting taxi owners who did not have to pay anything from their pockets.
"The charges of GTDC will be recovered from the consumer," he explained.
Later, Cabral explained that a fee of minimum Rs 20 and maximum Rs 80 would be charged to the customer, in addition to the taxi tariff, depending on the route and the number of hours the taxi was used for.
A representative of PITASYS software, the company that was successful in winning the bid for the app, said that this was the first initiative across the country where a state government had initiated something of interest for taxi owners and customers.
The app will have a 24x7 command center with a team of 30 Goan youth behind it, allowing customers to book taxis round the clock. The app, which Parrikar said could be used as soon as it was launched, can be downloaded from PlayStore and customers can use it to book a cab in 2 minutes flat.
Payment can be made via cash, or cashless options like a debit card, credit card, or payment apps. The app is set to function in a similar way as that of Ola.
Currently, 330 taxis have registered with the app, while other taxis will be taken on board in a phased-wise manner. Cabral explained that while a lot of taxi drivers had approached GTDC, they were taking it easy as it was a new service.
"More than 3,000 taxi owners approached us, but we have taken only 330 on board for the time being. We're going to take the rest phase wise, as it is a new launch and will take time to set-up," he said.
Play Store statistics showed that there were around 1000 downloads of the app by Monday evening.
With almost 25,000 taxis registered in Goa, the GTDC did not have statistics on how many of these were tourist taxis, but said that with the launch of the app, it would be easier to know.
The tariffs per ride would be metered automatically.
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HEADING
Ready to sort out any
problem, says Cabral
PANAJI: Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Nilesh Cabral said on Monday that he would be there for any taxi driver who had a problem with the Goa Miles app, and that he encouraged them to come forward, and sort out any issues they may have.
"I want people who are upset to come forward, I will find a solution to their issues," said Cabral. "We are not here to cheat them. The app is to facilitate their services. They didn't want Ola/Uber, so we've not brought that. We've brought in this app after going through various processes and identifying what we require for Goa," he said.
"I think this was the best answer for Goa. It was the dream of a lot of Goans to have an app-based taxi service."
Cabral also said that the GTDC looked forward to all taxi drivers joining the app.
"We're not taking money from you," he appealed to them. "This is the future. If any taxi owner is feeling down about it, or feels their business will get affected, come and talk to us," he said.
Cabral also said that the GTDC was looking forward to hearing Goans' take on the app. "I encourage all Goans to try the app for themselves and give feedback. I foresee something nice," he said.
Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar had earlier tried to put to ease the qualms of the drivers who were agitated because of the app: "It is good service for the people, and it is not to challenge anyone," he said.
While the new app is expected to be welcomed by Goan travelers and tourists alike, not all taxi operators are in synch with the idea. South Tourist Taxi Operators had, a day earlier, asked for the app not to be launched and said that the GTDC had not taken them into confidence as far as the app was concerned.
