Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Jun 3: In a fiery turn of events that has further intensified Goa’s ongoing transport debate, Revenue Minister Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate has openly called for the complete scrapping of rent-a-bike and rent-a-car services in the state. Speaking in the midst of widespread protests by local taxi operators outside Junta House, the minister claimed that rental vehicles are not only disrupting the traditional taxi business but also posing serious safety threats on Goan roads.

Monserrate voiced his frustration, alleging that the surge in rental vehicles has directly contributed to rising road accidents and fatalities across the state. “People are dying because of rent-a-bike and rent-a-car. Nobody wants to talk about it. It’s time we stop them completely,” he stated firmly after meeting with taxi operators from Panaji, Taleigao, and St Cruz.

The protest outside the transport department office saw hundreds of taxi owners queuing up to submit objections to the newly drafted Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 — a proposal they believe is skewed in favour of app-based services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. In response to the overwhelming turnout, authorities even set up a counter on the footpath to collect the massive volume of representations, with taxi leaders claiming they will file between 6,000 and 8,000 objections over the coming days.

Monserrate criticised the transport department’s lack of oversight, particularly regarding rent-a-cab operators who he said have monopolised parking spaces in Panaji. “The director should take care of this mess. I challenge the transport department to take action,” he declared.

While sympathising with the concerns of traditional taxi operators, the minister also encouraged them to remain open-minded about the aggregator model, suggesting it could help organise the currently unregulated sector. “Try it out first. Let the department explain the pros and cons,” he added.

As tensions rise and discussions continue, Goa finds itself at a crossroads — balancing the promise of modern transport systems with the protection of long-standing livelihoods in the state’s deeply rooted taxi industry.