Currently, the taxi issue is raging with taximen protesting at the Azad Maidan in Panaji.
It is indeed strange that taxis in Goa are permitted to ply without ‘meters’. GCCI says that only in Goa there are no meters for taxis and that GoaMiles compares ‘fairly well’ with other app-based taxi services.
I beg to differ on this. GoaMiles charges much higher than others in the country considering fuel prices in Goa are cheaper than the rest of India. GoaMiles has also increased their rates saying the ‘population’ in Goa is less.
To solve the taxi imbroglio, we need to have a clean slate on all looting businesses in Goa. Goans are shelling out astronomical amounts for all services from fruits and vegetables to real estate, construction, plumbing, fish etc.
The time has come to solve solve the taxi issue to ensure Goa’s economy does not suffer. We need to weed out all the government employees who own taxis and then those owned by MLAs.
The first step is of course fit meters. The government must also start its own app for taximen and the rates must be less than that of GoaMiles.
A cap must be put on the number of taxis a person can ply just like we have for shacks.
However, the need of the hour is to fit meters for taxis and probably an app just like that of GoaMiles which would go a long way tacking the cheating and fleecing by some.
