Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Goa government has launched the ‘Goa Taxi App’ to provide a hassle-free taxi-booking experience for tourists visiting the state.
At the launch of the Goa Taxi App on Friday, September 15, 2023, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the state is looking to attract quality tourists.
"Goa is already full of tourists," he said. "But, we now want quality tourists who will come to Goa and boost our economy. And when we say we want to do that, we also need to provide quality services and experiences. This app is part of that effort," Sawant added.
REDUCE ACCIDENTS
Sawant believes that the Goa Taxi App will help in reducing accidents, ensure the safety of female travellers, and curb overcharging.
CURB OVERCHARGING
He explained that the app will provide a transparent pricing system, with fares set by the Directorate of Transport. This will eliminate the need for tourists and locals to haggle with taxi drivers and worry about being overcharged.
Overall, Sawant believes that the Goa Taxi App will be a valuable tool for improving the safety and convenience of transportation in Goa.
GOA BEYOND BEACHES WITHOUT TAXI
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that the Goa Taxi App is in line with the state's tourism plans. "If we want to promote Goa beyond beaches, transportation becomes a major issue," he said.
"Though Goa Miles exists, it has its own challenges. Local taxi owners say since Goa Miles is a private entity, business is uncertain. Therefore, the government has come up with this app to help local taxi owners," Khaunte added.
PROPOSED SCHEMES
The government has also proposed four schemes for taxi owners who use the app.
Khaunte explained: "The first is a widow pension. If a taxi owner dies, his wife will receive the pension. The second is a pension scheme for taxi owners after the age of 60. The other two schemes are for the marriage and education of taxi owners' children."
WHY USE THE GOA TAXI APP?
The minister also said that the app was launched in January this year and was operating at the Mopa airport in North Goa. Based on the response, they decided to launch 'Goa Taxi App' statewide so that more local taxi owners could join and help tourists travel around Goa with ease.
Through the app, the government aims to provide the following benefits to the tourists and locals:
24/7 hassle-free taxi booking.
Transparency and enhanced service quality.
Economical fare rates.
Passenger feedback and reporting.
SOS feature for accidents, breakdowns, emergencies, and female passenger safety.
HOW TO USE GOA TAXI APP?
Download the Goa Taxi App from the Play Store or App Store.
Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
Enter your desired destination.
Select the type of taxi you want.
The driver will accept your request and arrive at your location.
Share the OTP with the driver and enjoy your ride!
