the goan I network
PANAJI
GoaMiles, the app-based taxi service operator at loggerheads with the unorganised local taxi drivers has claimed that the 1500-odd vehicles registered with them offer good and fair service to tourists and also adds revenue to the government treasury, unlike the other taxi owners who do business in cash and pay no taxes.
“There are around 32,000 private taxis registered and there is around Rs 6,700 crore business happening per year in cash but no direct service tax goes to the government,” Hemant Prabhu Chodnekar said.
Justin Nunes of GoaMiles informed that, “this causes the government a loss of approximately Rs 300 crore per year.”
Chodnekar who is the operator’s General Manager further added that unlike private taxi owners, their business is in digital format and 5 per cent GST is paid on every transaction.
He thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for reposing faith in GoaMiles and for initiating all efforts to convince the protesting tourist taxi drivers to join the app-based service for the betterment of tourism in Goa.
Hemant claimed that the around 4,000 taxi drivers registered with GoaMiles are of Goan origin while many private taxi drivers have given their cars to many non-Goans.
Taxi owners across the state are opposing this app-based service started by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and demanded an immediate ban on the app.
There are around 16 FIRs and 8 non-cognisable offences registered in the state for the assault of drivers belonging to GoaMiles.
The Anjuna Panchayat has passed a resolution of banning taxis belonging to Goa Miles in its jurisdiction.
GoaMiles officials however, said that said resolution has no legal standing and the taxis registered on their app continue to operate in Anjuna.
GTDC is a partner of the GoaMiles app and it provides the corporation a 5 per cent commission on every trip booked on its app.
GoaMiles officials also informed that the company has only one help desk counter at the Dabolim Airport and no bookings are taken at the counter. They have to be made through the app.
