Taxis On The Boil Again

This first appeared in the Heraldo dated 22 July 2022

The recent assembly session was pretty interesting. The opposition put up a brilliant performance even while some of them were planning to shift to the treasury benches.

 

The ruling party, by brute majority ensured the session was curtailed to a fraction of its original schedule.  It can be really hard for those committed to spending five years in the opposition, knowing that their co-batsmen are actually batting for the ruling party.

 

The powers that be found nothing wrong in curtailing it even further to accommodate the unscheduled visit of the Presidential candidate, surely this could have been held in the evening. Who cares, MLA’s get their salary irrespective of performance or attendance, so often they are not even physically present.

 

There were many topics raised and many brushed under the carpet. The hot topic was the conversion of land which has been reverted to its original status, it mainly effected the LOO.  But, the older complaint against the illegal structure in Old Goa was brushed under the carpet. The rising price of alcohol found a mention but not the rising LPG or food prices. Strange, no?  The taxi issue too was brought to boil, but the boiling three linear projects was left to cool, simply because the Government believed that it is a Central government project. A case of one engine not knowing what the other engine is doing. Should not  “double engine sakar” means each engine knows what other is doing so that they pull in same direction?  

 

What has made the taxicars blood boil is the admission on the floor of the house that they are fleecing the customers and not using the meters given free by the Government. The solution now lies in bring APP based taxis into the picture to set the situation right, like leaving a cat among the pigeons and hoping for a good ending.

 

The APP based taxi model is not a cure all, it is simply a method of putting an available taxi in touch with a customer wanting a ride. Goamiles was an one such operator. During elections, to calm the nerves of the taxicars, Goamiles was forced to go slow, attacks on their drivers intensified and the fact that they do not have meters was brought up. APP based taxis have digital meters. They also calculate the fare based on type of vehicle viz, hatchback, sedan or SUV. They also check facilities wanted viz: AC, wifi, entertainment. The best part of the fare calculation which is user friendly is the fare starts when you are picked up and ends with the drop. A recent ride from airport to Verna I.E. proved to be 45 % cheaper than a black and yellow, the car was clean and driver was a local.

 

In a press conference the Taxicars tried to appeal to the emotions of the goan public by playing the local card. They mentioned that the Transport Department is at fault for the impression created that taxicars are fleecing, they said that the Department has given rates based on Diesel and Petrol and not on capacity. They said they were willing to use meters but the hotel travel desk sets the rate and pays them later. This is not telling the whole truth.

 

Taxi kilometer rates are fixed based on size of vehicle and not on fuel type, many taxis have CNG but accept the same rate to their benefit and why not? Soon electric will be available too. The hotel cannot force their guests to eat in any of their restaurants, so how can the hotel travel desk force the guest to use a taxi parked outside the hotel. Hotels cannot make taxi bills it will attract GST and make the ride even more expensive. What the taxicars did not mention was the fact that if a coach has to enter a hotel to pick guests, the coach owner or the guest has to pay a “non usage of taxi tax” to the union. Now if there is a big group, why would they use ten taxis, surely one bus can be ideal and sufficient.  A customer must have freedom of choice. The union insisted that if OLA/UBER come into play, outsiders will take over the business, please take a taxi from the airport, most drivers are outsiders while owners are goans. So who is introducing outsiders to the business?

 

The taxicars challenged the CM  to compare bank balances, while they have a point politicians income grows leaps and bounds every year when in power, it does not mean taxicars should be also given a license to loot.  

 

At the end of the day, the Government will have to take a call and reset the mess, taxicars cannot demand a right to be part of the decision, how can competitors decide who will compete?  Currently there are three types of taxis, 1) tourist, who have max issues as they feel they own the hotel business 2) black and yellow which operate from airports and train stations and have no other business focus, and 3) rent- a-cab, which has quietly taken over the business earlier enjoyed exclusively by the tourist/black cab, by being customer focused. All these distinctions have to go, there should be taxis available for hire, the owner can choose if he wishes to list on an APP or if he wants he can run a high end personalised service for his customers.

 

The customer be it a local or a tourist, will choose what he wants, that is a right no one can take away. That is a right the Government must hand back to the travelling public in Goa. That is a right whose time has come. VIVA GOA. VIVA COMMONSENSE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Taken for a ride: by a taxi

1st appeared in the Goan Everyday"

The literal meaning of “taken for a ride” is cheated. In Goa, that is happening day in and day out, if you take a taxi, you are going to be taken for a jolly good ride. The worst part is, this happens with the blessings of the administration. The solution is blowing in the wind but the will is missing as votes are more important.

The taxi drivers know that they are on the wrong side of the law. But with political patronage they stand nose to nose with any authority and demand brazenly that they will install GPS meters only if illegal taxis are stopped and two, hotels and airlines do not charge high fares. This amounts to saying, I as a citizen will follow the laws provided there are no murders in Goa. Can such conditional acceptance of the law of the land be allowed, and should the authorities be mute spectators to such an audacious demand?

There are three types of taxis that operate in Goa, Black and Yellow: Usually found at prepaid stands at airport and stations. That is there domain. The private taxi is next, usually white cars. They operate from home ie anywhere or hotel gate (their turf) or important corner in village or town. The last is the illegal or unauthorised taxi. They are basically private cars on hire. The owners are usually Government servants and this is their extra income. One can now understand the blind eye by officials to this activity.

The taxi trade has to be counseled to realise that they cannot compare themselves to the hotel or airline industry. There is no alternative to taxis, a pity but if there is no public transport the only other options is your own vehicle and it shows in the growing no of registrations. Hotels, each offers different rooms, amenities and service levels, if one hotel prices itself above its level it will loose customers to another Hotel, in case of airlines many choose not to fly if the fare are too high.

The average profile of a taxi driver is school drop out and usually it is owner driven. Some owners do have drivers or more than one taxi, but all the drivers move on to becoming owner drivers sooner than later. The taxi business is usually operated from the house or nearby hotel or tinto. Most airport taxis owners are usually from around the area, radius of 10-15 kms. There are a few biggies who have a fleet of cars and they usually do not operate from the airport or station.

Now, with the above profile and collectively having associations based on North and South. One will not expect too much in terms of understanding either business, operating policy or expanding customer base. This lack of knowledge drives the taxi stake holders to the worst possible mediators, the politicians. The politicians is usually a long term player, but the term he is considering is his own reelection. So the focus is on short term decisions which do not need any thinking and definitely will not take the politicians time.

Thought must be given to the following and educating taxi drives about their impact and benefit must be part of the process. First and foremost is to pick low handing fruit, ie illegal operators. That ofcourse is the most difficult as it would mean authorities have to take action against themselves.

The next is the fact that taxi owners/drivers have to embrace technology. Today, there are customers waiting for taxis and taxis waiting for customers and the twain do not meet. Technology can change that and once the taxi trade accepts this, business will explode. But the Government should not wait, they should implement, it is good for taxis and customers. That is the mandate of Governance, see all sides.

This brings us to the root cause, one can argue which comes first, the customer or the price, in this case both have to be addressed simultaneously or it will not work and that is “GPS with meters”. The conventional meters are easy to fiddle with, lower air pressure increases mileage done or the tax can make unnecessary loops. GPS based system cannot be tampered and extra loops can be eliminated.

The Meter, eliminates the need for using the current area wise charts, eg: if there are two passengers headed for Verna, one going to industrial estate (11 km) and other to the Udear spring, (17km), both are charged the same Rs 530/-. While both 48/km or 32/km resp., is exorbitant, it is good for neither the passenger or the driver. For passenger one is paying more and for the driver he is getting less every time he drives deep into the area. Most times this results in arguments as the driver feels the customer has mentioned a closer destination to get the benefit of a lower fare.

They drive back empty and rashly just to get back into the queue again. Had they been using an “app”, it is possible that there is another passenger who wishes to go to the airport or in that direction, rather than empty and haggling, the driver can first become aware of such a customer and two, because of the meter a fair charge is payable.

The TAXI which is an asset is used more, the price comes down, the reputation goes up and the customers increase. The ordinary TAXI METER with GPS backed by a taxi hailing “app” will change the way Goa sees taxis, everyone will happily go for a ride.