GODINHO GIVES COLD SHOULDER TO OLA, UBER

PANAJI: Goa’s Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has slammed the door shut on app-based taxi aggregators Ola and Uber, declaring they won’t be allowed to operate in the state due to their failure to deliver in other states.

Godinho’s decision follows his in-depth study of these aggregators and interactions with drivers nationwide. “Ola and Uber are struggling elsewhere, and their poor driver pay model won’t fly in Goa,” he stated.

The minister prioritizes empowering local taxi entrepreneurs via initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Goencho Taxi Patrao (MGTP) Scheme over relying on external aggregators with unsustainable systems.

He cited Ola’s failed electric bike venture in Goa, where they couldn’t service vehicles, leading to dealership shutdown. This move is seen as a boost to local taxi operators struggling to compete with aggregators’ discounts and incentives.