THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
As tensions between traditional tourist taxi operators and app-based aggregators continue, the Goa government’s digital mobility initiative, ‘Goa Taxi App’, has surpassed 70,000 completed rides and onboarded over 1,000 drivers.
Launched in phases since early 2023, the app is a central component of Goa’s broader strategy to modernise its tourism infrastructure and address long-standing challenges in the state’s fragmented taxi sector.
The Tourism Department, in a press statement, claimed that the platform aims to bring transparency, reliability and safety to local travel, while offering taxi operators a chance to increase their earnings without ceding ground to private aggregators.
“The Goa Taxi App is not just a technological innovation; it is a commitment to creating an inclusive, efficient, and safe transport ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders. By leveraging digital tools, we are positioning Goa as a forward-looking tourism destination and improving livelihoods for thousands of local taxi operators,” Tourism Director Kedar Naik said in the release.
The rollout began with a taxi counter at Manohar International Airport in January 2023, followed by a second location at Margao Railway Station in October. Unlike private aggregators, the app is regulated by the Directorate of Transport and designed to redistribute revenue more equitably, with convenience fees earmarked for welfare schemes benefitting taxi operators and their families.
In recent months, the Goa government has called on tourist taxi associations to formally join the app, even offering them the option to operate through their own branded platforms provided they meet regulatory standards. The move comes amid resistance from several taxi operators who opposed aggregator platforms over concerns about loss of control and reduced fares.
