Goa government announces plan to protect app-based taxi services in wake of recent incidents of violence

Panaji: The Goa government on Tuesday announced it will provide protection to the mobile-application based taxi service in the coastal state in the wake of recent incidents of violence.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also appealed to traditional taxi operators to desist from taking the law into their hands. “The government would provide protection to the app-based taxi operators who have been facing violence from certain quarters. We appeal to those who indulge in violence against app-based taxi operators to mend their ways. They should also join the app-based taxi service,” he said.

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had introduced app-based taxi service, ‘Goa Miles’, in 2018, which has been facing opposition from traditional service operators.

Last week, a taxi assigned to Goa Miles was attacked at Colva beach in South Goa, allegedly by traditional taxi operators. Sawant said it was the responsibility of the state government to provide affordable taxi service to the tourists. “The system of app-based taxi service is prevalent across the world, but Goa is the only exception,” he said.

The chief minister said, “If the taxi operators find that moving to app-based taxi service would affect their business then we can think over it”.