The good news for the people of Goa, tourists and visitors to the state, is that the 'Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025' is all set to revolutionise Goa's outrageous taxi service by bringing all state taxis, auto-rickshaws and pilot bikes under the 'app-based' taxi system. The proposed imposition of hefty fines of Rs 50 lakh for operating taxis without a licence, and Rs 5 lakh for overcharging taxi fares, will hopefully serve as a deterrent to the obdurate taxi mafia who have been holding the Goa government to ransom with their belligerence for over two decades, cheating and destroying Goa's image as a friendly state. For the scheme to succeed, the Goa government must act tough to see that the proposed scheme does not remain only a paper tiger. MLAs' cooperation is also vital to educate the taxi operators on the benefits of the scheme and the need to co-operate. Otherwise, we will only be witnessing another fiasco and a return to square one, as in the past.
