App-based platforms power one-third of Goas taxi fleet
Panaji, Jun 15 (PTI) Nearly one out of three taxis operating in Goa are enrolled on the local app-based platforms in the coastal state, with most of them catering to tourists, official data shows.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's recent announcement that his government will not allow cab aggregators from outside Goa has raised hopes for the local app-based mobility platforms, which have been in the market for some time now.
As per government figures, out of the total 12,000 tourist taxis operating in the state, 5,000 are on board the app-based platforms, mostly with two companies -- Goa Miles and Goa Taxi App.
The Goa Miles alone has a fleet of 4,000-odd taxis on board.
Allaying the apprehensions raised by local tourist taxi drivers over the Goa Transport Aggregators Guidelines 2025, CM Sawant on Friday said cab aggregators from outside will not be allowed in the state.
The draft guidelines were issued on May 20. The last date to give suggestions and raise objections is June 30.
Goa Miles Chief Executive Officer Utkarsh Dabhade told PTI that their service, which is affiliated to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, was introduced seven years ago.
"Since the introduction of the app-based service, we have been receiving good response from tourists and locals alike," he said.
On an average, the Goa Miles fleet transports 15,000 passengers daily, of whom 85 per cent are tourists and 15 per cent local travellers, Dabhade said.
He said their services are available across the state, majorly at both the airports - Manohar International Airport at Mopa (in North Goa) and the international airport at Dabolim (South Goa).
The service has been completely a Goan brand with 100 per cent of the staff, including taxi owners, from the state, he said.
The state-run Goa Taxi App has been active for the last two years with more than 1,000 taxis on board the platform.
The service, having been introduced by the state government, is completely tourist-friendly with regards to rates and other facilities, a senior Goa Taxi App official said.
It would be beneficial for all the tourist taxi owners to get onboard the app-based service to get better business and also other facilities, he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Large volume of our supplies don't come through Hormuz': Hardeep Puri assures fuel stability amid Middle East tensions
As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, raising the likelihood of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, India is closely monitoring global oil trends. Around one-fifth of the world's oil consumption passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is situated between Iran and Oman. (Reuters) Union minister for petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, has reiterated that India has adequate oil supplies to meet its needs. 'We have been closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East since the past two weeks,' Puri said in a post X. The Union minister noted that India has 'diversified our supplies in the past few years and a large volume of our supplies do not come through the Strait of Hormuz now.' Puri said that the nation's oil marketing companies have several weeks' worth of supply, adding that they 'continue to receive energy supplies from several routes.' The Union minister assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the stability of supplies of fuel to Indian citizens. ALSO READ | Iran hints at Strait of Hormuz closure. How will it impact Indian crude imports? Last week, following the Israeli strikes on Iran, Puri asserted that India has enough energy supplies for the coming months. 'India's energy strategy is shaped by successfully navigating the trilemma of energy availability, affordability and sustainability,' he said, adding that, 'We have adequate energy supplies for the coming months.' The brewing tensions over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led countries to think about the possible repercussions on oil prices. NDTV reported, citing sources, that the central government might considering reviewing the excise duty cuts on fuel if the crude oil price goes above $105 per barrel. Impact on India if Strait of Hormuz is closed India, the world's third-largest oil importer and fourth biggest gas buyer, imports over 85 per cent of its crude oil needs and roughly half its natural gas requirement, a news agency PTI report said. Of these, over 40 per cent of the oil imports and half of the gas imports come from the Middle East. However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is the passage of around one-fifth of the world's oil consumption, might impact India's energy sector and global oil prices. ALSO READ | Strait of Hormuz: Why the narrow waterway is at stake as Israel-Iran tensions rise About 2 million barrels per day of crude oil out of India's total import of 5.5 million barrels per day transit through the Strait of Hormuz. However, industry officials and analysts have reportedly said that India is not likely to lose sleep even if the Strait were shut down. This is because it has alternative sources, from Russia to the US to Brazil, already readily available to fill any void. India's principal supplier of gas, Qatar, does not use the Strait of Hormuz for supplies to the nation, PTI reported. And other sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia, Russia, and the US would also remain untouched by the narrow waterway's closure. While India imports around 90 per cent of its crude oil, more than 40 per cent of those imports originate from Middle Eastern countries, such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, whose exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. However, in recent years, Russia has become India's largest supplier of crude oil, which is refined into fuels like petrol and diesel. In June, Indian refiners imported around 2 to 2.2 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil, the highest in the last two years.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan discovers new oil and gas reserve in Sindh
Pakistan's state-owned Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDCL) exploration firm has discovered a new oil and gas reserve in the Sindh province. Experts reportedly said that the latest discovery shows that Pakistani soil still houses some untapped energy.(Reuters/Representative Image) The exploration firm made the discovery earlier this month at Kharo at its Faakir-1 wildcat well, said Field Operations officer Saleem Khan on Saturday. 'The discovery was made after drilling to a depth of 4,185 metres, the well tested at 6.4 million cubic feet per day of gas and 55 barrels per day of condensate from the Lower Goru formation,' Khan added. According to experts, the latest discovery shows that Pakistani soil still houses some untapped energy, news agency PTI reported. ALSO READ | 5 facts on Strait of Hormuz, the focal point of global oil trade 'It's not a gusher by global standards, but it's a critical domestic win. It is a significant breakthrough and a step forward in tapping and finding new reservoir blocks," Khan said. Since last year, the ODCL has made at least two major discoveries; One in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's Lakki Marwat, wherein gas and condensate reserves were found with an initial production of 2.114 million cubic feet of gas and 74 barrels of crude oil per day. Another discovery was when the firm found substantial oil and gas reserves in Attock, Punjab. ALSO READ | Massive oil discovery in Pakistan spurs hope of economic revival: Report The official reportedly said that with Pakistan's growing energy needs, the ODCL has been collaborating with private firms to conduct more such explorations across the country. Last year in September, it was reported that Pakistan had found large deposits of natural gas and oil in its territorial waters after a three-year survey. A senior security official at the time had said that these reserves hold the potential to significantly boost Pakistan's economy and would be key in forming a 'blue water economy'. At present, Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, holding more than 300 billion barrels, followed by Saudi Arabia, which has over 295 billion barrels in oil reserves. (With inputs from PTI)
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Gandhinagar civic body's maiden municipal bond issue oversubscribed 9 times
The bonds, carrying a coupon rate of 7.65 per cent, have positioned Gandhinagar on the national map for urban financial innovations, it said. The Rs 25-crore bond offering garnered bids worth Rs 225 crore in just one hour during the subscription window on the National Stock Exchange, reflecting strong investor confidence in the civic body's financial credentials, the corporation said in a statement. Gandhinagar, Jun 21 (PTI) Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation's (GMC) debut municipal bond issue received an overwhelming response from investors, being oversubscribed nine times, marking a historic financial milestone. The Rs 25 crore raised will be used for the development of iconic and citizen-friendly infrastructure, enhancing traffic efficiency and commuter convenience, it added. With this, GMC has become the youngest municipal corporation in the country to successfully tap the bond market. It is also the fifth urban local body in Gujarat after Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot and the 17th in India to raise funds through municipal bonds. In addition, Gandhinagar is expected to receive around Rs 3.25 crore in interest subsidy under the AMRUT scheme, further amplifying the impact of the raised capital. PTI HG TRB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
