Panaji: State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Thursday in a written reply told the Legislative Assembly that the government has received more than 3,800 objections and suggestions on the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, even as it detailed measures taken to safeguard the interests of traditional taxi operators in the state.
Replying to a starred question tabled by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao during the ongoing Winter Session, Godinho said the department had received 3,802 objections and suggestions and 290 letters supporting the draft guidelines issued on May 20, 2025. He added that all feedback is being examined before the guidelines are finalised and notified.
Godinho said the government is aware of the problems faced by Goan taxi operators and has taken multiple steps to support them. These include securing dedicated taxi counters at Dabolim Airport for the United Taximen Association and at Manohar International Airport for the Blue Cab Taxi Association and Shiv Warrior United Taxi Brothers Association, with the government bearing fifty per cent of the lease rent for the latter two.
He said 164 Blue Cab taxi permits were issued to local landowners affected by the construction of Manohar International Airport, while applications for an additional 50 permits are under consideration.
The minister said the government amended Rule 140 of the Goa Motor Vehicles Rules, 1991, exempting app-based taxis from mandatory installation of digital fare meters. He added that under a reimbursement scheme, 2,278 taxi drivers were reimbursed Rs 2.56 crore towards the cost of digital fare meters.
Godinho said the government had also liberalised the system for installing vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs) by cancelling vendor empanelment, allowing taxi operators to procure devices from any AIS-140 compliant manufacturer. Nearly 12 vendors are now registered on the state VLTD portal, he added.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government exempted taxi operators from motor vehicle and passenger taxes, amounting to Rs 16.3 crore, and waived penalties worth Rs 2.74 crore.
Explaining the draft aggregator guidelines, the minister said they aim to modernise the taxi sector while protecting local operators. Under the draft, only taxis registered in Goa with valid permits and drivers holding PSV badges issued in the state can operate on aggregator platforms, and aggregators must pay the full government-notified fare to drivers without commission deductions.
He said the draft guidelines also provide incentives such as reimbursement of insurance premiums and special benefits for women taxi drivers, including a one-time incentive of Rs 1 lakh for female owner-cum-drivers to purchase electric taxis.
Godinho said there are currently two app-based aggregators operating in Goa — Goa Miles and Goa Taxi App — with a total of 5,506 taxis registered on these platforms. He clarified that no cab aggregator has been banned in the state and that there is no proposal to introduce the ‘Bharat Taxi’ app in Goa, as no communication has been received from the Centre.
He added that the notification issued on May 20, 2025, is under consideration and the matter will be placed before the State Transport Authority after examining all feedback.
