Speaking to reporters today, Godinho said the proposed digital platform for the taxi sector has failed to receive support from stakeholders and political representatives, making its rollout difficult before the elections.
"Frankly, elections will be there in the next six months. Which government of the day will take any such harsh decision when elections are so close? So, it will have to wait until the elections are over," Godinho said.
He said every government department has embraced digital platforms, but the taxi sector continues to resist the move.
"You know as much as I know that the taxi drivers are not ready for a digital platform. I can take a horse to the water, but I cannot ask it to drink the water. I have tried so much," he remarked.
The minister said political realities have left the government with little room to act.
"My hands are tied. What can I do? Can I force it down the throat of the people? The taxi people will come up in arms because everyone belongs to a constituency; they catch hold of their MLA. It is a normal thing. I cannot force it down their throat."
Godinho said there is no immediate solution to the issue, though the government is continuing to explore options.
"Right now, there is no solution for me. There will be a solution, and I will give the solution at the right time, but in the immediate future, there seems to be no solution," he said, adding that even the Central Government is grappling with similar challenges.
Referring to the Centre's cooperative-based 'Bharat Taxi' initiative, Godinho said Goa is also examining various models while taking road safety concerns into account.
The minister said he has convened a meeting of the entire Transport Department on July 6 to review pending issues, including road safety and the regulation of rent-a-cab and rent-a-bike services.
"Whatever needs to be done should be done as per law. We cannot make knee-jerk reactions," he said.
Godinho said most road accidents involve drunk tourists and people driving without valid licences, stressing the need for a stronger enforcement mechanism.
He also noted that the government has not issued new licences for rent-a-cab operators for the past two years. However, he alleged that some businesses continue to operate through franchise arrangements despite the restrictions.
The minister said demands have also been made to issue more rent-a-bike licences in the name of providing employment to local youth, but claimed many operators are functioning illegally.
Godinho further said the government has significantly reduced the number of accident-prone black spots across Goa through interventions taken at meetings of the State Road Safety Council.
"A lot of work has been done on black spots, and the accident rate has been brought down. In every State Road Safety Council meeting, steps have been taken, black spots have been removed, and several regulations have been changed," he said.
The minister said CCTV-based traffic enforcement was originally scheduled to begin on July 1, but the government has decided to use the initial period for public awareness before starting enforcement. A decision on whether enforcement will commence from July 15 will be taken at the July 6 meeting.
He said the CCTV network will eventually be expanded across the entire state.
"In a modern world, you need CCTV cameras everywhere, as it is abroad, so that if a crime happens, we can see who was passing by," Godinho said.
Stressing that the rollout would be gradual, he added, "I don't want anything to be done fast and forced, where it appears to be forcing it down the throats of our citizens. People are sensitive. Even when it is the right thing, sometimes you cannot do the right thing immediately."
