Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, May 29: In a move that could reshape Goa’s long-standing taxi landscape, the state government has published draft guidelines to regulate app-based transport aggregators — a step that has evoked sharp resistance from local taxi unions.

The proposed ‘Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025’, notified in the Official Gazette on May 20, aim to introduce a clear regulatory framework for app-based taxis and bike taxis. The guidelines cover licensing fees, tariff structures, mandatory insurance policies, and service standards, potentially opening the door for major private aggregators like Ola and Uber to legally operate in the coastal state.

While the government has invited public objections within 30 days of publication, the announcement has already sparked outrage among local cab operators.

Multiple taxi unions across Goa have condemned the move, threatening to stage statewide protests if the guidelines are enforced.

"This is nothing but an official invitation to private companies to snatch away our livelihood," said a spokesperson for the North Goa Tourist Taxi Association. "We have been serving tourists for decades. Why are we being pushed aside?"

Goa’s taxi unions, known for resisting digital platforms, have long operated without fare meters, often drawing criticism from tourists who allege arbitrary and exorbitant pricing.

The guidelines mandate that:

• Only drivers with valid PSV (private service vehicle) badges can be onboarded.

• Aggregators must not disincentivise drivers from joining multiple platforms.

• Aggregators must provide minimum health insurance of ?10 lakh, increasing annually by 5%. For female drivers, coverage extends to their parents and children.

• Aggregators must guarantee government-prescribed fares for drivers and ensure full fare payout without deductions.

• Payments must be settled within 72 hours of each trip completion.

The state argues that the framework is pro-driver, pro-consumer, and ensures fair competition and transparent pricing.

For years, Goa’s tourism stakeholders and travellers have demanded app-based taxis, citing poor affordability and lack of convenience in the current taxi ecosystem. However, the powerful local unions have pushed back, accusing the government of favouring corporates over traditional operators.

A senior Transport Department official told Daijiworld, “The draft policy is aimed at creating an inclusive transport system where technology, transparency, and safety come first. We are not against traditional cab drivers — they too can join the system.”

The final decision is expected after June 19, once the window for public objections closes.

As Goa navigates this critical turn in its transport policy, the government faces the tough task of balancing economic reforms with grassroots sensitivities — while travellers await a long-overdue ride into the digital age.