Tourist taxi drivers are on strike these days seeking the scrapping of GoaMiles, claiming the app-based taxis are eating into their profits. Goa’s taxi operators, who run taxi services without functioning fare meters, have also been repeatedly accused of fleecing and behaving rudely with customers.
The taxi drivers also manipulate the kilometres and fares. Unfortunately, the authorities turn a blind eye while the ignorant travellers end up paying more than what the taxi drivers deserve.
The taxi service is still unregulated with many charging huge amounts of money for short trips. Taxis form the backbone of the tourist transport infrastructure in Goa.
The abysmal service from the taxi sector was one of the factors which is responsible for a dip in tourism arrival numbers in Goa. Goa is only State in the country where taxis are not required to install meters.
HC had made it mandatory that taxis have digital meters. The Goa government has not been able to enforce it as the tourist taxi drivers and owners have political patronage.
The government should go ahead with the app-based taxi service. Ola, Uber is an amazing user-friendly and performance-based online platform.
