Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, May 25: Taxi operators across North and South Goa have united in protest against the newly proposed Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, strongly opposing the government’s push towards app-based taxi services. The unions claim the move will directly threaten their livelihoods and traditional way of operating.

The draft guidelines, made public on Wednesday, seek to regulate ride-hailing platforms and allow taxi drivers to register with any app aggregator of their choice, operating at government-notified fares.

However, the local taxi fraternity is far from convinced. “We clearly communicated to the transport department that app-based taxi services are impractical in Goa,” said one taxi operator, echoing a sentiment widely shared across the coastal state. “This is not just a job for us — it’s our business. The government seems intent on privatising the taxi sector, but we will not surrender our control.”

Taxi unions have cited the existing friction caused by the government-backed GoaMiles app as a cautionary example. “There’s already enough conflict due to GoaMiles, and now the government wants to add more apps into the mix. This will only increase confusion and tension,” said another taxi driver.

The unions also voiced concern that the taxi sector is being dragged into the same privatisation wave that, according to them, has already affected railways, hotels, and airports. “We will not let our taxis meet the same fate. We are firm in our stand — we will not join any app-based aggregator,” they asserted.

While the state transport department maintains that the guidelines are aimed at standardising services and offering convenience to passengers, the backlash from local taxi operators suggests that implementation will be an uphill task unless a consensus is reached.

As of now, the taxi unions remain unmoved, vowing to fight any move that threatens their autonomy in Goa’s tourism-driven transport ecosystem.