Taxi Meters Finally?

This first appeared in the Heraldo dated 23 April 2021

 

The Government is planning to install digital taxi meters for all taxis, including app based ones. Why would anyone do that, it will surely add only confusion to the process of having a fair and equitable taxi service in Goa. App based taxis already have a good and fair system.

 

Why suddenly out of the blue the taxi issue is on the boil again. Before the pandemic struck, the Government had effectively ensured that app based service were here to stay, the first, Goamiles had started. The more prominent ones had backed down in 2017 after their drivers assaulted and cars vandalised, with no one facing the music.

 

On the heels of the court decision, that all taxis must have a meter and as an incentive to install, the Government agreed to bear the full cost.  Taxicars contribute nothing towards taxes, app based taxis pay tax and yet so much is spent to pacify taxicars.

 

Today, the emphasis is on digital meters from 1^st May, ambitious. For ten years nothing happened, can it happen in 10 days? The National Infomatics Centre is developing and testing a new digital meter, it will have all the features of app based software. Specially for Goa, this meter will allow booking from a phone, great stuff. In Rajasthan, taxis install both meters, app based and physical meter, so they can get customers on both platforms i.e.  hail a cab or book online, metering is fair. Since app based taxis will be forced to fit digital meter, there should be no confusion as to which is to be used when the customer rides.

 

The fact that the taxicar’s taxi had to fit a meter, set a cat amongst the pigeons and they have decided to act in the manner that has shown results in the past. Attack. They are on video harassing the very tourists they claim is their bread and butter, vandalising and assaulting the competition and claiming all this to safeguard a “goan” culture of overcharging taxi users. A taxicar leader who is not a leader claimed they were protesting at this time because elections are round the corner and any leader who does not back their cause will face defeat, a year down the road. Many politicians are falling over each other to try and gain the taxicars sympathy.

 

If the taxicars are able to convince the Government that competition is bad, then soon we will have “brick and mortar” shops demanding “e commerce” delivery be stopped or “restaurants” demanding “delivery aggregators” be stopped and matka bookies demanding closure of casinos, the list can be endless.

 

Goamiles has its advantages and we should also allow anyone else who wishes to join, including the taxicars with their own app. With their experience and knowledge of Goa they will give any ride hailing app with baile drivers, a run for their money, are they game to take on the competition and excel or are they going to continue down the path of destruction aided by self serving politicians.

 

The taxicars believe, that the taxi business, the last frontier of jobs for goans, is going to die and thus it needs protection. Protection can be given to Feni distilling, it needs protection. Not driving a taxi, and surely not driving a taxi that thrives on over charging. Is a taxi needed only by tourists? Any and everyone can do with a ride: Had too much to drink, Mother needs to visit her cousin and the list can go on. So ride hailing apps actually increase the customer base from just those near airports or hotels to across the length and breadth of Goa. Once fares are rationalised more people will travel. So the taxi business will only thrive, what will die is rampant overcharging, including faulty distance charts.

 

Consumers are spoilt for choice with every product or service. Why should it be different for a taxi ride. Why should a local or tourist be dependent on the neighbourhood driver and pay exorbitantly for what the driver considers a favour. Gandhi considered every customer a reason for our business, the drivers see them as an interruption to the card game and thus charge for one short trip enough so that he does not have to drive the whole day again.

 

It always amuses me when the drivers try to justify their exorbitant fare by saying, he had to wait in the line for the whole day etc. Boss, do you think people work hard, arrive at midnight from Timbuctoo, only to dish out money to a taxicar so that he makes his days earnings in one trip. Why should anyone be forced to part with hard earned money to get a ride?

 

Is a goan driver preferred to a non goan, yes it is a pleasure to return to Goa and hear konkani, but what are you willing to pay for that pleasure and are you sure the goan taxicars is driving the taxi?. Think again. Hire a taxi paying through your nose at the airport counter, 99% your driver will be a “baile” who today is joining the ride hailing app. So, what are these taxicars shouting about, they have effectively handed over the trade to outsiders.

 

To protect the taxicars from themselves, and to give the Goan population and tourist a fair choice, the Government must stand firm and ensure that violence and goodagiri will not tolerated.  The Government must adopt cheaper, technologically updated and reliable “ride hailing apps”. The Government must ensure that a customer friendly policy is in place, one that is equitable to driver and customer.