Panaji (Goa)

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a state-run body, today invited the taxi operators, who are currently having the licenses, to register with the App-based taxi service.

The state currently has tourist taxi operators who run their business individually, while attempts by the online cab aggregators like Ola Cabs to start their services in Goa, had met with the opposition from politically influential tourist taxi lobby.

GTDC managing director Nikhil Desai said that the taxi operators who are registered within Goa are eligible to empanel themselves with the initiative, which will be launched shortly. Desai said that the App-based taxis would operate from locations like GTDC residencies which are located across the state, Mormugao Port Trust jetty where cruise vessels anchor, Dabolim airport and St Monica Jetty in Panaji, besides other spots.

“Every taxi at designated location will have to follow the online queuing system based on which a ride will be confirmed or assigned to every operator,” Desai said.

State government in the past had faced resistance from the taxi operators against introduction of online cab aggregator Ola Cabs in the state. They had claimed that introduction of such services will hamper the tourist taxi trade in the state.