PANAJI
The notified draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 has drawn battle lines between Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and his MLA wife Jennifer Monserrate. While Babush has firmly distanced himself from the protests by tourist taxi operators, Jennifer has thrown her full weight behind them.
In a quick meeting with the taxi owners’ delegation from Panaji, Taleigao, and St Cruz, the minister did not mince words. “The real problem is not the apps. It’s the rent-a-bike and rent-a-car businesses killing your trade,” he told the delegation while urging them to unite and create their own app instead of resisting the shift to tech-based systems.
He further accused many of operating illegal rental services on the side. “Some of you have one taxi but four or five rental vehicles. Who's benefiting," he questioned.
Jennifer, meanwhile, struck a markedly different tone urging the government to hold talks with the stakeholders. “As of now, the taxi operators have my full support... They are more worried about the aggregators. The government should hold a discussion with them because the taxi operators are unaware of what’s happening,” she told the media in reply to a question on the escalating issue.
She too agreed that rent-a-car services had created chaos on Goan roads but felt that the confusion surrounding the app-based system warranted urgent discussion.
While the minister called for a structured, tech-forward solution and even suggested a minimum business guarantee to safeguard drivers, he claimed 90 per cent of the state's taxi drivers were non-Goans.
Babush however said he was willing to back the taxi operators if the aggregator system failed. “Ask the government to give you a minimum business guarantee. At least ensure that your EMI is covered. If the app system fails, I’ll stand with you. But give it a try,” he said.
