Will bring taxi app before cabinet for nod, says Godinho

Panaji: Transport minister Mauvin Godinho said on Monday that the proposed new Goa taxi app will be brought before the next cabinet for approval.
Godinho told TOI that that the app has been developed by Goa Electronics Limited (GEL). “The app has been already developed and designed, and it will be brought before the next cabinet at the next meeting for approval,” he said. Initially, the state government had set a target to launch the app on Liberation Day, but it has been deferred.
“The app is opposed by taxi owners and operators. They only want to run their system,” Godinho said.
Godinho said that once the app is launched, taxi owners and operators will have to migrate to the app to provide better services to tourists. “Of every Rs 100 earned by taxi owners and operators through the app, Rs 5 will be deducted for maintenance of the app and Rs 5 for welfare schemes for taxi operators and owners. Rs 90 will directly go to the owners and operators,” Godinho said.
The app will be run on a no-profit basis, he said, adding that some taxi operators are ‘mafia’ and that harassment of tourists should stop.
He said that even after providing free digital meters to taxi operators, they are not using them, and they also misguide tourists saying that if they go by digital meter, they have to pay more.
The transport minister said that there will be an increase in enforcement. “I am unhappy with the statement of the South Goa SP that there was miscommunication,” Godinho said.