Church body calls for dialogue to resolve taxi tangle in Goa

PANAJI: The Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT) urged Travel and Tourism Association of Goa and Goa’s taxi unions to shed their differences and create consensus to resolve the current logjam regarding taxi operations in Goa. TTAG secretary Aakash Madgavkar suggested that taxi unions should take the initiative and create their own app-based taxi service which offers customers choice and transparent pricing.
CRT, an organisation affiliated to the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, invited tourism stakeholders for a meeting at Altinho, in a bid to find an amicable solution for the current discord between the hotel industry and taxi operators.
While TTAG and guest house operators spoke in favour of an app-based taxi service for the state, taxi owners and operators complained of being unfairly targetted by tourists and the government.
“An app would go a long way to bring transparency in fares. The point is about letting the customer choose,” said Madgavkar. “There can be multiple apps. The taxi unions, the operators can have their own app but it is on them to develop the app.”
Deepak, a taxi operator, said that taxi operators are open to the idea of app-based taxi services provided the rates are fair. However, he made it clear that he does not speak for the union.
“We can sit across with TTAG, the company, taxi unions and fix the rates and then develop the app,” said Deepak. He pointed out that bribes to government officials make a big dent in their earnings. He also said that the government needs to take taxi operators into confidence while framing policies.
CRT has stressed on the need for a “dialogue” to find an “equitable solution” that works for the tourism sector, taxi operators and the government. CRT representatives said that the existing trust deficit between TTAG, taxi operators, tourists and the government is detrimental for all stakeholders.
Guest house owner Joseph D’Souza shared anecdotal evidence to make the case for an app-based taxi service while also insisting that local taxi operators are key to Goa’s tourism industry.
“Taximen have been shying away from technology for some reason, but they will have to come to terms with it sooner than later. A fair policy with no hidden agenda and no middlemen is what is required,” said D’Souza.