CM to meet 35 taxi associations, says business will remain in the hands of operators
PANAJI
On the eve of the Budget Session, the State government is set to release the draft Digital Taxi Policy to taxi associations for consultation and finalisation, marking a fresh attempt to streamline and regulate app-based taxi operations in the State. The move comes almost seven months after scrapping the earlier Transport Aggregator Guidelines amid stiff opposition.
Speaking to mediapersons, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he will chair a crucial meeting of all taxi associations on Thursday, during which the draft policy will be presented to stakeholders for discussion and finalisation.
“The policy was long overdue. We have finally drafted it and want taxi operators to study it before it is launched,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister asserted that the proposed framework would be a win-win for the government, taxi operators and tourists alike. “As per the policy, the taxi business will continue to remain in the hands of our local operators. The focus is on safety, security and transparency in the sector,” he said, expressing confidence that the policy would be finalised soon.
Sawant said that there are a total of 35 taxi associations who have been called to attend the meeting. The budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly is set to commence from March 6.
The State Transport Department had, in July last year, introduced draft Transport Aggregator Guidelines aimed at regulating app-based taxi services. The guidelines focused on fair pricing, driver welfare, and the mandatory use of locally registered vehicles and licensed drivers. Notified in May for public inputs, the draft received over 4,000 suggestions and objections.
Taxi operators had strongly opposed the guidelines, fearing that app-based services would adversely affect their livelihoods. They argued that the framework could allow outside players to enter the market, leading to increased competition and potential loss of business for local drivers.
Facing mounting pressure, the government withdrew the guidelines in August. Following the rollback, the Chief Minister had announced that a new policy would be introduced by September.
