PANAJI
The ongoing discourse in the State over the draft policy unveiled by the government to permit app-based taxi aggregators to operate and the stiff opposition to it from Goa's taxi operators and their unions is not a phenomenon unique to Goa.
The history of this conflict in India and worldwide is long and dates back to the time app-based taxi aggregators entered the market in France back in 2015-16, leading to violent protests in Paris and legal battles.
In several States in India and even countries, including developed nations like the United States of America and France, local taxi unions have stiffly opposed their governments' decisions to allow app-based aggregators to operate.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
In India, in the touristic city of Jaipur and other cities of Rajasthan, as recently as four days ago, local taxi unions clashed with app-based taxi aggregators Ola, Uber and Rapido on issues linked to fair fares, driver livelihoods and the impact of private bike taxis.
The taxi unions there are demanding that the government intervene to regulate app-based services, ensure fair pricing and protect traditional taxi operators, with somewhat similar apprehensions being expressed by Goa's taximen.
Delhi and National Capital Region
In Delhi too, taxi and auto-rickshaw unions have repeatedly clashed with app-based ride-hailing aggregators Ola and Uber. Here, being a metro, the unions argue that app-based services operate with lower regulatory burdens and offer incentives like surge pricing, tilting the balance in competition.
Numerous strikes and protests have erupted in the national capital over this issue, including a two-day strike disrupting transport across the Delhi NCR as recently as August 2024.
Paris, France
Globally, this conflict in France drew maximum attention when San Francisco-based Uber entered the country in 2015-16, leading to violent protests and legal battles. It resulted in stricter regulations and bans on some Uber services.
America
In the United States of America, several cities have faced legal challenges and protests over the regulation of app-based taxi services and the loss of incomes of local taxi unions.
Australia
In Australia, taxi unions argue that app-based platforms disrupt the traditional taxi industry and threaten livelihoods. It even led to Uber agreeing to pay $271.8 million to taxi and hire car drivers after a successful class-action legal suit for the loss of income and licence values they suffered as a direct result of its arrival.
With jurisprudence on class-action suits in the Indian judicial system yet to evolve, local taxi operators and unions in Goa fear that they will have no avenues to seek such compensation through class-action suits if their incomes dwindle and they lose their livelihoods once the large players like Uber and Ola begin operations here.
