Panaji: Goa’s iconic two-wheeler taxi service, popularly known as “motorcycle pilots”, has gone digital, with the state government on Monday launching a mobile application that allows commuters to locate and book rides online.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the ‘Mhaje Driver App’, bringing the Portuguese-era mode of transport onto a technology-driven platform.
The application enables commuters to locate the nearest motorcycle pilot and book a ride before he reaches the pickup point, popularly known as “pilot stands” in the coastal state.
Launching the app, Sawant said the initiative would make the service more convenient for passengers while also helping motorcycle pilots increase their earnings by expanding their customer base.
Motorcycle pilots, a unique feature of Goa’s public transport system, provide pillion rides on motorcycles and have remained a popular mode of transport, particularly in areas where other public transport options are limited, he said.
Sawant praised the motorcycle pilots for providing an “incident-free service” to customers throughout their years of service.
“Even today, parents trust motorcycle pilots to drop and pick up their children from school. There has not been a single incident where a motorcycle pilot has misbehaved with a customer,” the chief minister said.
He said that it is not compulsory for motorcycle pilots to get onboard the app, as it is optional. Sawant said that those motorcycle pilots who do not have smartphones would be provided one by the company operating the app.
The chief minister clarified that the pilots do not have to pay anything to any company or agent for being on the app.
“The tariff charged to the customer will remain the same and will be collected directly by the pilot. There should not be any confusion about it,” he said.
Speaking further, Sawant said that the state government is considering the proposal of providing e-bikes to motorcycle pilots at a 50 per cent subsidy.
He said that the remaining 50 per cent amount could be paid by the pilots through instalments.
Sawant also said that the state government will reintroduce a pension scheme for motorcycle pilots who have completed 50 years in the profession.
