Soon, port to get counter for taxis with queue system

Panaji: The Goa Taxi app is the need of the hour in order to prevent ugly clashes between tour operators, tourists and taxi drivers, said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday. He said that though the app is ready for use, the decision on its rollout has to be taken by transport minister Mauvin Godinho.
Khaunte said that the government has been in damage control mode, trying to assuage concerns of the cruise industry and foreign embassies. “We cannot afford another blunder like Vasco,” he said. “Through word of mouth the news of the incident has already gone to cruise lines and embassies and we have been clarifying.”
He was referring to the December 14 incident when taxi drivers harassed cruise passengers who had arrived aboard the cruise ship MV Ocean Odyssey and who had pre-booked a tour package for Goa.
Khaunte said that all stakeholders, particular Goa police, need to work together. He also said that the Mormugao Port Authority has been asked to setup a taxi counter and to start a queue system for the tourist taxi operators.
He said that the Goa Taxi app will act as an aggregator and taxi service provider for tourists as well as locals. “We want the app to come out at the earliest so that the right message goes out,” said Khaunte. “Goa Taxi is the app for Goa’s taxi drivers. They will run the app and we will just assist them. The revenue from it will be used for schemes meant for them.”
He said that the state government will hold discussions and consultations with taxi operators and taxi associations to understand their concerns and to explain to them how the Goa Taxi app will function.